This week, I am at the “Confessor’s Institute” at the Villa Maria del Mar Retreat Center in Santa Cruz, California.

This week, I am at the “Confessor’s Institute” at the Villa Maria del Mar Retreat Center in Santa Cruz, California.  This is an annual five-day summer program dedicated to the training of confessors with instruction in every aspect of the Sacrament of Penance as well as its effects on the lives of confessors, penitents and the Church’s entire sacramental life. Saint Patrick’s Seminary and University and the Avila Institute host this opportunity for ongoing priestly formation through the Initiative of Priestly Renewal.  I am so happy to be here!

The goals of the Confessor’s Institute include:

(a) To examine every aspect of the sacrament, especially from a confessor’s point of view;

(b) To promote skillful hearing of confessions with an eye to emerging complex pastoral, moral, spiritual, canonical and legal issues;

(c) To explore the relationship of healing and deliverance to the sacrament;

(d) To rediscover the spirituality of the confessor, as developed by great confessors of the Roman Rite such as St. Jean Vianney, St. Leopold, Fr. Dolindo, and others.

(e) To examine the history and reform of the Rite of Penance of Saint Paul VI as an effective force in the renewal of the Church intended by the Second Vatican Council and now implemented in the New Evangelization; and

(f) To promote the Sacrament of Penance and penitential practice as part of priestly identity, ministry and spiritual fatherhood.

Workshop topics include:

• The Approaches of Confessors who became Saints

• Best Practices surrounding technology and the confessional for Protecting the Seal of the Sacrament 

• Best Practices around Deliverance and other Specialized Ministry inside the Confessional

• How to Help Penitents Struggling with Gender Dysphoria, Same-Sex Attraction and Broken Family Life

• Helping Souls find Freedom from Pornography, Scrolling and Gaming 

Here at Saint Francis, I am so grateful, and we are so blessed, to have Fr. Michael and Fr. Carlos with me.  We hear confessions seven days a week and by appointment, as well.  I am looking forward to sharing the insights from this Confessor’s Institute with them, as well as with our brother priests in the Diocese.  Please pray for me! I’m praying for you!

Fr. Mark Zacker

Pastor