The Mom Weekly Volume 159: August 25, 2026
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Understanding the Assignment
Kids these days like to use the expression, “She understood the assignment.” I think what this means is that the person excels at something, or gives 110 percent, whether it’s dressed “just right” or better for an event, knowing the perfect thing to say in a situation. Here’s a BBC mini-podcast about it.
Here’s an example I think fits the bill: (but let me know if I’m wrong): one of my sisters has always been an excellent companion on long drives, because she always has snacks, water, and is prepared for just about anything. She understands the assignment of being a good traveler.
I had two experiences in recent weeks that brought to mind the expression “understanding the assignment.” One negative, one positive.
Not Understanding the Assignment
Earlier this summer, I was in a Western state for a conference (I don’t want to give too many particulars because I don’t want to directly criticize someone I don’t know at all, especially if there could be extenuating circumstances. I don’t think there are, but just to be safe I’m going to be vague).
I went to a downtown parish on one of the weekdays I was there, as I like to do when I’m traveling. Often, an urban parish or two will have more opportunities for confession than a typical parish, and it’s a great way to experience a new-to-me church. There was a daily Mass at 5:30 p.m., and the online bulletin said confessions were heard from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Great, I thought, I’ll go for confession, and have some quiet time and stay for Mass.
I arrived around 4:25, and there was a bit of a line. I thought, hmm, can we all get in? Who knows? I’m glad I’m here.
Well, most of the confession times of the people in line was, let’s just say, longer than normal for a typical confession line. And as I got closer, I noticed a sign nearer to the confessional that said, “Father will leave at 4:45 p.m.” or something similar. Noted.
The woman ahead of me went in, and she came out at exactly 4:45 p.m. She said to the rest of us in line, “Father is coming out, confession is over.”
I can’t say I was shocked, based on the sign, but I was a little miffed. Honestly? Mass isn’t for 45 minutes? You can’t wait around for four or five more people to go to confession? Anyway, I chalked it up to this particular place and time, but I found it less than ideal. Clearly, the priest did not “understand the assignment.”
Understanding the Assignment
Later in the summer, earlier this month, I was traveling again, (with some of you!) and I was able to get to a Saturday night Mass at at parish I hadn’t been to before . We arrived pretty early, and I said, I think I’m going to try to get to confession. The online bulletin said it was again, 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m., and Saturday evening Mass was 5 p.m. We arrived at probably 4:30, so I didn’t have high hopes, but I thought, well, I’ll give it a try.
It took a bit to find the location for confession, and when I did (around 4:35 or later), I thought, well, this probably isn’t going to work. There were maybe 10 people in line ahead of me. But I thought, well, I’ll just stay here to pray until confession is over. A few minutes later one more person lined up behind me.
I got a little more hope because people were moving through pretty quickly, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened when there were four of us still in line—two young women, me, and the young man after me. I can’t remember the time, but it was pretty darn close to 4:45 p.m.
An older gentleman came out and said something like, “Father said he has to leave in five minutes to get ready to say Mass, and he said: do you understand the assignment?”
Okay, he didn’t really say that, but I can’t remember the exact words. He said somehow in a very clever way, without saying it outright: keep it (very) short and all of you will still get to go to confession. And we all looked at each and smiled and nodded, as if to say, “We understand the assignment.”
And we did. The two women ahead of me each took a minute, if that. I got ready to make it brief, and I was ready when it was my time. Father said after I said my confession, “You can say your act of contrition after you leave.” I think mine might have been well under a minute. And that included him saying the words of absolution, and I honestly got chills. It was so wonderful!! I told Father there was one more person behind me, and I know that he was able to go as well.
Now, that is what I call someone who understood the assignment. Not us, although once it was set out to those of us going to confession, we got it together and made it happen, so that all of us could go to confession.
No, it was the priest himself hearing confessions that afternoon. He understood the assignment of hearing confessions on a busy Saturday before Mass: try to get as many people to receive the healing graces from the sacrament as possible. And in a clever and honestly pastoral way, and with help from all of us, he made it happen. Kudos to him.
This priest incidentally gave a great homily at Mass that night about all of the readings:
First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3
Responsorial Psalm: 145
Second Reading Romans 8:35, 37-39
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
Interesting/Notable
Our Last Wi-Fi-Less Refuge Is Gone (The Atlantic gift link)
This is about how good wifi is becoming common on airplanes. I actually don’t find that the worst thing in the world, but this is an interesting perspective.
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