Day of Reconciliation, Reparation & Fasting; PLUS, 12 Hours of Reconciliation
We are amid the wonderful Jubilee Year of 2025, which Archbishop Grob encourages us to embrace. Soon, we will have two related but different initiatives occurring on Wednesday April 9 under the common name, “Day of Reconciliation, Reparation, and Fasting.” Both initiatives connect us to the theme of hope and our call to reinvigorate our well-founded hope in God’s mercy, and to be close to those who suffer from lack of hope.
The language of these two initiatives, which occur on the same day, may lead to some confusion, so here’s an explanation of these wonderful Lenten opportunities:
Part of April 9 is not new. This will be our annual “12 Hours of Reconciliation” in which eleven of our parishes will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation for most of the day. Thanks to our priests for continuing to request this annual moment and generously giving many hours to dispense God’s mercy in this sacrament. Thousands of the faithful avail themselves of our open doors on this day, and we ask you to pray especially for those who have been away from this sacrament for some time.
Part of April 9 is new, a one-time occurrence in honor of the Jubilee Year. Archbishop Grob has asked all the Catholic faithful to make this a day of Reparation and Fasting. All are invited to fast and make small acts of reparation in recognition of how we have – individually and as a society – failed to be signs of hope to others. We remember in our sacrifice and prayer those who suffer exclusion, indifference, poverty, hunger, and the pain of war. To undertake an archdiocesan day of reparation and fasting will create an opportunity for you to explain this noble spiritual practice in a way that best suits your parishioners.