<<<"Not all confessions are private anymore, either. Some of the devout partake in communal penance services.">>>
Then their is no absolution therefore no confession therefore no communion.
<<<"The Rev. Michael Manning, pastor of St. Anthony's Church in San Bernardino, said he has seen the numbers rising at weekly confession services every Saturday and for seasonal penance services.
"Now what we're offering before Christmas and Easter is a communal confession time," Manning said. "We have several priests there, and we share a reflection on Scripture, then people will share one or two of their sins." >>>
Penance service yes, sharing one or two sins no, at least in my Catholic Church.
From the Catechism:
1424
It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a "confession"—acknowledgment and praise—of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.
It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace."6
It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to God."7 He who lives by God's merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord's call: "Go; first be reconciled to your brother."8
Note: "disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament."
Note: "by the priest's sacramental absolution"