Advent Penance Services offer Catholics the perfect invitation to receive the Sacrament of Penance ahead of the Christmas celebration.
The communal services are liturgies that bring members of the Body of Christ together to acknowledge our sins and ask God for His forgiveness. They typically include Scripture readings and a homily to help penitents prepare for individual confession, as well as petitions for God’s mercy.
Penance services are communal in the sense that the faithful are gathering to acknowledge the effects of sin on the community and to celebrate the liturgy; but penitents don’t confess their sins collectively, nor do they receive a general absolution. Each person makes a private confession with a priest in the confessional during the service. Catholics may attend a Penance Service at any church, regardless of which parish they attend.
Here is a list of various Advent Penance Services, alphabetically by town. Contact your parish for more information if you don’t see it listed below.
Abbottstown
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Tuesday, December 16, at 7 p.m.
Bloomsburg
St. Columba Church
Wednesday, December 10, at 7 p.m.
Bonneauville
St. Joseph the Worker Church
Thursday, December 11, at 7 p.m.
Camp Hill
Good Shepherd Church
Thursday, December 18, at 7 p.m.
Carlisle
St. Patrick Church (Marsh Drive)
Sunday, November 30, at 7 p.m.
Conewago
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Saturday, December 20, at 10 a.m.
Duncannon
St. Bernadette Church Confession Schedule in Advent
December 6 from 7-8 p.m.
December 7 from noon-1 p.m.
December 13 from 7-8 p.m.
December 14 from noon-1 p.m.
December 20 from 7-8 p.m.
December 21 from noon-1 p.m.
Elysburg
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church
Tuesday, December 16, at 6:30 p.m.
Ephrata
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church
Thursday, December 11, at 7 p.m.
Gettysburg
St. Francis Xavier Church
Saturday, December 20, at 10 a.m.
Hanover
St. Joseph Church
Wednesday, December 17, at 7 p.m.
St. Vincent de Paul Church
Saturday, December 6, at 9 a.m.
Harrisburg
St. Catherine Labouré Church
Monday, December 15, at 7 p.m.
St. Margaret Mary Church
Wednesday, December 17, at 7 p.m.
Hershey
St. Joan of Arc Church
Sunday, December 14, at 7 p.m.
Kulpmont
Holy Angels Church
Monday, December 15, at 7 p.m.
Lancaster
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
Sunday, December 14, at 6:30 p.m.
Lebanon
St. Benedict the Abbot Church
Sunday, December 14, at 3 p.m.
St. Cecilia Church
Sunday, December 21, at 2 p.m.
Marysville
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
Confession Schedule during Advent
December 11 and 18 from 6-7 p.m.
December 23 from 7-8 p.m.
McSherrystown
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
Saturday, December 13, at 10 a.m.
Mechanicsburg
St. Joseph ChurchSunday, December 21, at 2 p.m.
St. Katharine Drexel Church
Sunday, December 14, at 2 p.m.
Middletown
Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
Sunday, December 14, at 2 p.m.
Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Tuesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m.
Mount Joy
Mary, Mother of the Church
Monday, December 15, at 7 p.m.
New Cumberland
St. Theresa Church
Sunday, December 14, at 7 p.m.
New Freedom
St. John the Baptist Church
Tuesday, December 23, at 7 p.m.
In the Capitani social hall and classrooms
New Holland
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Confession Saturdays from 4-4:45 p.m. and Sundays from 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. through Advent
Palmyra
Holy Spirit Church
Monday, December 15, at 7 p.m.
Quarryville
St. Catherine of Siena Church
Tuesday, December 9, at 7 p.m.
Shamokin
Mother Cabrini Church
Sunday, December 7, at 3 p.m.
Steelton
Prince of Peace-Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
Sunday, December 14, at 6 p.m.
Trevorton
St. Patrick Church
Sunday, December 7, at 1 p.m.
Waynesboro
St. Andrew the Apostle Church
Wednesday, December 10, at 6 p.m.
York
St. Joseph Church
Saturday, December 20, at 10 a.m.
St. Rose of Lima Church
Monday, December 15, at 6 p.m.
For information about services at parishes not listed, please contact the parishes directly. You can find their contact information by clicking here.
