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I can't chastise people for going to confession, but sometimes I wonder about the horrible lack of courtesy with long confessions when there are a dozen people waiting in line before mass. Universally, there will be one individual who is in there for 15 minutes. Somehow I think It's more likely that they're seeking counseling and a soapbox to bounce their thoughts off than confessing that long of a list of sins. I just wish they'd get a private appointment for their problems, which most priests prefer, than holding up the short 30-60 minute window most priests hear confession in a week.

I see it with women the most. If there are more than 3 in front of me I know there's a good chance the priest is going to have to hear my confession after mass. The men usually are more interested in telling them in as few words as possible than going on a long tangent.

That confession is only available once a week in many parishes is another pet peeve of mine.

You are spot on as far as long lines and longer confession times. I usually end up confessing my uncharitable impatience.

“That confession is only available once a week in many parishes is another pet peeve of mine.”

Yup, an hour before the vigil Mass for a parish of a few 1000 families doesn’t exactly send the signal that the whole deal is all that important, in my opinion.

Freegards

That confession is only available once a week in many parishes is another pet peeve of mine.
Same here! Although this is helpful for only Chicagoland folks, there's a church in River Forest, IL, that has Confession after both of their daily Masses, during the week. http://www.stlukeparish.org/ and there's one in Chicago (St. Peter's in the Loop) that has Confession all day long: http://www.stpetersloop.org/libraries/bulletins/2013_43.pdf, and every time we've been there, there's been someone Confessing and/or others in line. And one of the prettiest churches we've ever been to is St. John Cantius, in Chicago. They have Confessions on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday before all Masses and "during" them as well. We've seen long lines at this parish, keeping sometimes two priests busy all during Mass. http://www.cantius.org/go/liturgy_devotions/category/liturgical_devotional_schedule/"

Completely agree. And it often seems to be the same person(s), week after week. You know that if they get ahead of you in line, your chance of getting to confession before mass has just gone out the window.

That confession is only available once a week in many parishes is another pet peeve of mine.

I know what you mean. On the flip side I've been in some parishes where the mass is packed but the priest sits lonely in the confessional for most of the designated time.

"I can't chastise people for going to confession, but sometimes I wonder about the horrible lack of courtesy with long confessions when there are a dozen people waiting in line before mass. Universally, there will be one individual who is in there for 15 minutes. Somehow I think It's more likely that they're seeking counseling and a soapbox to bounce their thoughts off than confessing that long of a list of sins. I just wish they'd get a private appointment for their problems, which most priests prefer, than holding up the short 30-60 minute window most priests hear confession in a week."

"I see it with women the most. If there are more than 3 in front of me I know there's a good chance the priest is going to have to hear my confession after mass. The men usually are more interested in telling them in as few words as possible than going on a long tangent."

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I know what you mean too.

(And in our parish, it always seems to be the sweetest, most saintly, angelic women who take the longest in there! I know it is wrong to do, and I should really be minding my own business, and carefully re-examining my own conscience, and re-reviewing my own sins, but to while away the time, I sometimes start thinking, "Holy-moly, exactly what kinds of sins does a sweet old lady like that commit, and how many sins can such a dear old woman squeeze into just one week?!? And where in the world does she get the energy to sin so much?!?") (That's for the ones who go to confession every week.)

(Mea culpa! Mea culpa! Mea maxima culpa!) :-)