Are you looking for the best places to go to for frequent confession in Metro Manila? If you're also a tourist in the Philippines, look no further! I have an incomplete list just for you! Of course I haven't been to all the popular churches in the National Capital Region yet but I've compiled a list of where anyone can go almost anytime of any day!
Since our country is the first Catholic nation in Southeast Asia, foreign Catholic visitors will definitely feel at home here. Heck we have English masses everyday! I kinda hate that but such is life.
Anyway, all except three of these are the places I've already confessed in. Hahaha. So I can say they definitely adhere to the time and schedule they posted. 😉 Unlike small parishes, you have to ask the priest in order to confess instead of them automatically waiting at the confession box/area at the designated time. Some don't even have a specific schedule at all, you really have to make an appointment. Sad huh.
So of course I only included the churches you can enjoy the freedom of when to confess! No need for appointments or face to face confession either! All done inside the private confessionals. ♥️
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The Basics and More Info About Confession
Before we go any further, read these first to learn the basics on the Sacrament of Penance and more. This is so you understand the context of everything.:
- The Devil Rejoices Whenever People Do Not Confess To Priests
- Non-Catholic Christians Also Confess to Priests or Pastors?
- Should We Still Go to Confession Just For Those Venial Sins?
- Who Says It's Boring or Scary To Go to Confession?
- Weekly Sacrament of Confession? | 3 Misconducts to Avoid!
If you already read those, lezgoooo!
⛪ Where to Go For Frequent Confession?
ARE YOU EXCITED?!? Well heck I am, every time I think about confession it means my soul will be taking a shower once more! Oh I love it. This is why I get sad when I can't go and when I don't know if I have enough sins to confess. Hahaha. Seems crazy if you don't know the feeling. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is such a wonderful experience. ♥️
Because of the changes I initially went through last year I've discovered a lack of confession schedules in many Catholic churches here in Metro Manila. Not all prioritizes putting it together with the mass schedules of the churches' pinned online posts.
Seriously, on social media all parishes post confession times and dates during the Lenten and Christmas season. Other than that you won't hear much of a peep. If we don't know where to look we won't even find it!
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I admit, now that I know about Holy Hour for First Friday devotion, finally I see there are some parishes that have confession available at the same time. Didn't used to care about Eucharistic Adoration nor confession but if more people start becoming frequent confessants then the need for confessing will surely grow.
So the question now is, where to go where there's an almost infinite amount of time to confess our sins? You don't wanna wait in line or have very limited time? Well then, here are the best places to go to so you don't need to ask a priest in person just to confess your sins. I did not include those that offer confession 30 minutes prior to or after certain masses. This is a list of where to go that has plenty of hours available for everyone!
DISCLAIMER: Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
✝️ Archdiocese of Manila
Quiapo Church in Manila City
Their website and Facebook page is not updated but I chatted them up around December last year. This is their confession schedule:
Screenshot of our Facebook Messenger chat
So that's 12 hours a day, 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday! Oh I love it! Go anytime! Plenty of priests and sometimes there aren't even any lines!
Check this out! I went there again around February this year. That's when I finally noticed those confession boxes at the left side when facing the altar. 😆
Quiapo Church confessional boxes
Baclaran Church in Paranaque City
If you go there coming from LRT Baclaran station I suggest to make your way there as a form of penance. Seriously you have to have a great deal of patience just to get to the church area!
Anyway it's got a great schedule for confession so I've included this in the list. Total of 6 hours, 5 days a week and 12 1/2 hours every Wednesday! Wow right?
Latest schedule of Baclaran Church as of Feb 2024 | source
✝️ Archdiocese of Cubao
Sacred Heart Parish - Shrine in Quezon City
Schedule posted as of July 2024 | source
As you can see, the sacrament is available three times on Wed, Fri and Sat of each week. Aside from that, in every Sunday mass (except 2) there's also an available confession still at the back part of the parish! Just fall in line in the provided pews before or when the mass starts. It will end with the last confessant. The priest will leave when everyone is done and then another priest will take over when the next mass starts.
This is different from the ones above or below. I really appreciate it too! Why? Because they offer more time and opportunities to confess at various times ON SUNDAY! Isn't this amazing? People are lazy and most people only go to church on Sundays so this is perfect, confession and Mass obligation in one day and location! 💪 No excuses!!! 😆
National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes - Quezon City
Oh look, I found another one! Haha.
Screenshot source
Notice it's almost the same with the Sacred Heart Parish - Shrine above. Upon the start of the mass people can then go to confession. ♥️
The main difference is, confession is available twice from Mon to Sat. Awesome right?
✝️ Special Mentions
Don't spend all your money in malls with things that will rot. Earn graces from God instead! ♥️ Better to store up treasures in Heaven even in commercial centers, right?
Here are mall chapels to visit so you can avail of the Sacrament of Confession. Except the first one listed below which I haven't tried yet, the only cons would be the strict adherence to the schedule and the long line (depending on the day and the week you go).
Take note of the time because there's no extension. If the priest gotta leave, they will leave. Sad but such is what happens in mall parishes.
Sto. Niño de Paz in Makati City
A.k.a. Greenbelt Chapel. Oh boy will you look at that! I mean, wow, isn't this amazing too?!
Schedule posted on July 2023 | source
I love how the confession schedule text is bigger than the mass schedule. Haha, that's how it should be done! 😆 And look, that's 10 hours EVERY effin' DAY! You have no excuse not to confess wherever you come from in Metro Manila or the Philippines. Hahaha.
a.k.a. Rockwell Chapel in Makati City
Weekend confession for the win!
Schedule as of Oct 2023 | source
Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in Mandaluyong City
This one is in SM Megamall and it has an impressively spacious Adoration Chapel. 😍
Schedule posted in January 2024 | source
Take note: When it's First Friday or First Saturday and it's almost 5 pm then you see there's still a long line, you better find another parish to confess in. 😉 They strictly adhere to the schedule so better be here early or else. 😁
What if you don't wanna go to these places?
You still think you don't need to confess to a priest? Think again.
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You can always go to your local parish/church. No problem. I just wanted to share these because of the convenience of time and long hours of availability. Lord knows we need to do this often so any church with such schedules is a real blessing!
If you know of others feel free to share too! Would love to know about them and for sure other readers would appreciate it as well.
XOXO,
