Well, we have a penance service but around here we have a short service and then we line up for confession with a bunch of priests from other parishes and retired priests. We don't get group absolution nor do we confess our sins publicly. I have NO idea what they do in California!
We have that here in Advent and in Lent. I keep telling them they need express lanes: "10 Sins or Fewer" but do they listen to me? One of my buddies calls it a "Confessathon".