[mware]

They seem to be unaware that going to a "communal penance service" is basically just preparation for going to individual confession. Communal penance is not a magic wand.

Agreed our town is having a Communal Penance Service with all the parishes in our town (3) next week in preparation of Easter Week. We have been encouraged to attend Confessions following the service

[livius]

We're having one on Monday with 10 priests. Apparently the priests here love these services, because they all come in from their rather scattered parishes, do the short service and hear confessions for about an hour or so, and then go out to dinner!