Catholics are invited to confession during Be Reconciled Day March 25

The Diocese of Rockford is again setting aside a day specifically for confession so Catholics can prepare their souls for the hope and joy of Easter.

This year, “Be Reconciled Day” will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Bishop David J. Malloy initiated the “Be Reconciled Day” of confession soon after becoming bishop of the 11-county Rockford Diocese.

Recognizing the need for God’s grace and forgiveness in the lives of Catholics, Bishop Malloy asked all 105 parishes in the diocese to set aside the Wednesday before Holy Week and, where possible, offer confessions on that day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The goal of Be Reconciled Day is to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation widely available, especially for people who have been away or hesitant about going to confession for many months or many years. “Be Reconciled Day” is a way to provide Catholics convenient and ample opportunities to obtain the grace of the sacrament to prepare their souls for Easter.

Bishop Malloy asks Catholics “When was your last confession?” but assures people not to worry as he issues his annual invitation to confession through a multimedia campaign that now includes electronic outdoor billboards in Rockford, Freeport, Lena and McHenry.

“The Lenten season is always an important time for us to take stock of our spiritual lives. In the Church’s tradition of prayer, fasting and charity, we draw closer to Christ and to the Church. Our souls are laid open to be strengthened by Christ’s love, grace and forgiveness so it is a real privilege, as priests, for us to focus on the opportunity to offer that forgiveness especially to those who have been away from confession for a long time for whatever reason,” Bishop Malloy said.

The bishop added that “ the act of reflecting on our lives and confessing our transgressions is the perfect way to receive the hope and grace promised through Jesus’ death and resurrection.”

Bishop Malloy also suggests that Catholics extend a friendly invitation to someone they might know who has been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to also be welcomed and take part in Be Reconciled Day at all diocesan parishes.

In addition to digital, print and social media advertising, information about Be Reconciled Day is available on a dedicated page on the Diocese of Rockford website at bereconciled.rockforddiocese.org.

The site includes confession times for all parishes in the Rockford Diocese as well as a printable guide on how to prepare to make a good confession.

For the most current information about “Be Reconciled” follow the Diocese of Rockford on Facebook. You can also check local parish confession times by downloading myParish App available free in the App Store or finding individual parishes at rockforddiocese.org. Current parish Lenten activities and other special reconciliation services will be posted at The Observer Catholic newspaper website at observer.rockforddiocese.org.

Established in 1908, the Diocese of Rockford is comprised of 105 parishes in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, JoDaviess, Kane, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties in Northern Illinois serving a Catholic population of more than 400,000. For more about the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, visit rockforddiocese.org.