New confessionals change church area

The completion of 36 new confessionals gives a whole different look to the north side of St. James Church in Medjugorje. The benches facing the church have been replaced by tiles, and the confessionals themselves have been engulfed in arches and pillars, providing shelter from the sun.

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Roman arches help providing shadow to the penitents who use Medjugorje’s new confessionals. Photo: Marco Piagentini

Construction work quickly changes the look of Medjugorje, but not all the new buildings are hotels and pansions. 36 new confessionals have also sprung up this Winter and Spring, to take the total number of outdoor confessionals to 61.

Last details still missing here and there, a few ladders can still be seen to the north of St James Church, but the fences have come down, and the area has reopened to the public. The confessionals have been built in a U form facing the church.

medjugorje 36 outdoor confessionals confession shelter sun may june 2012

The confession area is three-winged. Photo: Marco Piagentini

The new confession area has pillars and arches to add a Mediterrenean atmosphere, and serving to shelter waiting penitents from the sun. Parish staff officials previously cited conditions during the warmer months of the year when more than 300 priests are oftentimes willing to hear confessions among the reasons to build the confessionals.

Officials further cited reasons of privacy among many other factors leading to the decision to set in the excavators.

 

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