Diocese participates in Lenten ‘The Light is On For You’ 2025
By Elizabeth Landry
Staff writer
Originally an initiative of the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Arlington, ‘The Light is On For You’ encourages churches across the country to be open for quiet prayer and Confession throughout the season of Lent. This year, the Diocese of Syracuse is participating in this initiative in all parishes by offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the Monday of Holy Week, April 14, from 4-7 p.m.
Many parishes also participated in this initiative during the Advent season at the end of 2024, including every parish in the Greater Utica Area vicariate. Fr. Tom Servatius, vicar forane of the Greater Utica Area and pastor at Historic Old St. John’s, St. Peter’s, St. Joseph-St. Patrick’s and St. Mark’s, all in the Utica area, said that some 12 to 15 priests were available for reconciliation at one location, expressing how successful the initiative was in that region. Speaking with the Sun, he talked about the significance of The Light is On For You, and explained how a regional approach benefits parishioners and priests alike.
Fr. Servatius
“With the regional approach, people can come to one location and see a variety of priests available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If they want to go to their pastor, they can do that. If they don’t want to go to their pastor, they can do that as well. Plus, it gives people the visual message that they are not alone — we’re all sinners — and we all can support each other on our journey toward reconciliation. Finally, with several priests available at one location, it gives the priest the freedom to spend some extra time with an individual if needed. This is particularly important if the individual has been away from the sacrament for several years or needs to confess something that is weighing pretty heavily on their hearts. In those cases, the priest doesn’t have to rush it,” explained Fr. Servatius.
Not only does this regional approach benefit parishioners, but importantly, it also greatly benefits parish priests, Fr. Servatius emphasized. He said that several priests in his region have been working on this initiative for a few years and that because there are fewer and fewer priests, “it has become incumbent that we move beyond our “silos” and work together more.
“The regional approach which we’re doing in Utica works. It reminds people that they’re not alone in their journey to and with God. It also reminds several priests that they’re not alone in this important ministry. If an individual priest suddenly gets ill, or if he has a sudden emergency, he knows that there are other priests to cover for him. Plus, he doesn’t feel like he’s going it alone. Together we share the journey. Plus, we usually gather afterward for a brief social to check in on each other.”
Regardless of how parishes and vicariates choose to participate in The Light is On For You — through a regional approach or a different strategy — Fr. Servatius highlighted the importance of utilizing the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten season for all Catholics in the diocese, and all throughout the year as well.
“Given the penitential journey that is Lent, it is a great season to engage the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” Father said. “But regardless of whether it is Lent or not, it is a great sacrament of healing. It is important to have the chance to talk it out, have someone actually listen, and to be assured of God’s love. Jesus did that throughout the Gospels — assure people of God’s love and forgiveness. Yes, Jesus as God did that, but so did Jesus the human being. We go to people with other matters in our lives — doctors, therapists, etc. — why not do the same with something in our lives that affects our relationship with our all-loving God?”
For all those throughout the diocese who are contemplating going to Confession during Lent, as we prepare for the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter, Father has a simple message: “Trust in God’s endless mercy. No one wants to forgive more than God does.”
Note: Parishes in the diocese offer ongoing Confession schedules throughout the year. The most reliable way to confirm that a parish will be open on April 14 from 4-7 p.m. is to give the office a call. Given the number of priests and the current collaborative situation at many parishes, it may not be possible for each parish to offer this particular schedule.
