WILMINGTON, DE — As Lent draws toward Holy Week, Catholics across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore will have a special opportunity to prepare for Easter during the fifth annual Reconciliation Monday hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.
On Monday, March 30, parish churches throughout the diocese will open their doors for extended hours so Catholics can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession. The diocesan-wide effort allows parishioners to visit any participating parish and receive the sacrament during a five-hour window designed to make it easier for families and individuals to participate.
The initiative is intended to help Catholics reflect and seek spiritual renewal during the final days of Lent before Easter celebrations begin.
“At a time when calls for peace and unity in our world and in our local communities ring out over the news and on social media, our faith reminds us that our hearts are restless for a true peace that comes through our relationship with Christ,” said Most Rev. William E. Koenig, bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington. “And I invite all Catholics – whether it has been months, years, or decades since their last Confession – to prepare their hearts for Easter by taking advantage of this diocesan-wide event.”
Koenig said priests throughout the diocese will be available to welcome parishioners seeking the sacrament during the event.
“It is my sincere hope that Catholics across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore will heed Pope Leo XIV’s call to make Lent a time of ‘conversion of heart’, all of the priests of the diocese are ready to welcome you for Reconciliation Monday and for Easter,” he said.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a longstanding practice in the Catholic Church in which individuals confess sins, express repentance, and receive absolution. According to the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, the sacrament offers believers an opportunity to restore their relationship with God and the Church.
While all 57 parishes across the diocese will participate in Reconciliation Monday, not every mission church will host confessions due to the limited number of priests. Parishioners are encouraged to check their local parish website before attending.
Event Details
- What: Reconciliation Monday diocesan-wide Confession event
- When: Monday, March 30, 2026, 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Where: Participating parish churches across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore
- Cost/Tickets: Free; open to Catholics wishing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- More Info: www.cdow.org/ReconciliationMonday
Established in 1868, the Diocese of Wilmington includes parishes and schools serving the entire state of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
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