February 18, 2025 // Diocese

The Light Is On For You: God’s Grace Is ‘Worth the Time’

Clare Hildebrandt

Reporter

“I find in my life as a priest that there are few things that cause so much joy in my heart as when someone walks into the confessional and it’s been over a year,” said Father Mark Hellinger, parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist in Fort Wayne. “It’s not uncommon on days when I feel tired or down for the Lord to send that instance into my life as consolation.”

From 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend will host The Light is On For You, an opportunity for Catholics to visit any diocesan parish and experience God’s mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Whether Catholics attend the sacrament regularly or have been away for some time, all are welcome during this night of connection with Christ.

The event, which has taken place in multiple dioceses in the United States, stems from Pope Francis’ 24 Hours For the Lord, an initiative to promote the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Church. During the celebration in Rome last year, the Holy Father spoke on the power of, calling it the “wonders of wonders” and “the foundation of Christian existence.” 

For Father Mark Hellinger, hearing confessions on nights like The Light is On For You, is truly “a wonder,” filling the priest’s heart with joy.

“Like I said, there really is very little that can make me or any priest’s heart as happy as someone reconciling and confessing sins, especially after being away for years,” he told Today’s Catholic and added: “[After confessions,] I get to see that suddenly the past is not so weighty for them; God’s grace is the victor of the moment.”

He went on to explain how a diocesan event for confession creates ease for those attending. It can be difficult to approach a priest after Mass for confession, explained Father Hellinger, because they often seem busy and parishioners do not want to burden them. However, ‘nothing,’ he says, is more important than reconciling people to the church.

“People avoid reconciliation for certain reasons. They think priests are too busy. One of the most important things a priest can do is sacramental ministry,” he said. “And, one of the most important statements is that ‘this is actually worth my time.’ Reconciliation is worth the priest’s and confessor’s time.”

And, even better, this diocesan event is a testament to that truth, Father Hellinger told Today’s Catholic. 

“The goodness of having a day like this one in March is that every parish sets time aside for confession. We are really saying this is one of the most important things we can do. We participate in [The Light is On For You] for a deeper lived communion, deeper holiness, and for the proclamation of the Gospel.”

Today’s Catholic also caught up with Father Jake Schneider, associate pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, to hear about his experience with the sacrament.

“[When in the confessional], I am a mediator. The divine life is bestowed in and through the church so the priests mediate God to the people.”

Father Schneider often sees profound changes in his confessors, brought on by the Holy Spirit.

“[After the sacrament,] you get to see this flame ignite in [the confessors,] a flame that without greater devotion, will go out. If they don’t fuel it with prayer, it will go out,” he said.

A person’s disposition can even change, echoing the love of Christ.

“When Jesus touches a person’s soul in such a profound way, and normally, we see it in their or hear it in their voice, see it in their eyes,”  he said.

Father Schneider continued: “It’s almost like they’ve been energized, and they don’t know what to do with all this new energy. I sometimes see they start to either go to daily Mass and start to participate in their parish in some way, because they’ve been given this new life.”

“I like when they share that they ‘ felt a difference.’ They will say ‘ I felt lighter after it.’  Even though it’s something spiritual, it almost materialized itself because sin does become a part of us,’” he said.

“It is  just beautiful,” Father Schneider concluded.

This beauty comes from the ability to be vulnerable, welcoming Christ into sins and wounds.

“The one place where you can be most vulnerable and not judged is in the confessional,” he earnestly said. “We have so much fear of vulnerability, of the wounds we carry against one another, but the Lord is with us in it and wants us to be reconciled, not only to Him, but to each other.”

The young priest explained we don’t need to tiptoe around Christ with our sins; on the contrary, He is the very person who desires the most to forgive.

“People carry great burdens and think there’s nowhere to go. They isolate and carry these burdens for years, but Christ came into the world to bear our sins for us, so we just have to hand them over. He wishes to forgive your sins.”

And through this forgiveness, “the Lord will touch a part of you that perhaps has been untouched, or a part of you that you didn’t even realize was dead. We can sometimes just walk around like zombies, dead in the spirit from sin, but the Lord frees us from that by filling us with his life [through confession],” he said.

Father Schneider added: “It is then that he gives you eternal life once again in your soul, so that wherever you go and whomever you encounter, you radiate the joy of the Gospel.”

On March 11, Catholics should be open to the grace of God’s forgiveness, allowing Him to ‘surprise us.’ 

“Our God is a God of surprises – He wants to give us good things that are better than we could ever imagine. Through confession, we come close to Him,” he concluded.

Clare Hildebrandt is a reporter for Today’s Catholic.

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The Light is On For You

When: Tuesday, March 11, 6-8 p.m.

Where: All Diocesan Parishes

What: Opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

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