Confession

Okay, so I was not going to post again until next week, but something happened to me today that I feel like I just need to express to the universe and to all of you who may be reading!

This morning before Mass at the Chapel in the neighborhood, I was simply going to concelebrate the Mass with Fr. Raymundo and he was going to introduce me to the community.  The Mass was scheduled for 8:30am.  At 8:35am we were still in the sacristy and there was a flurry of activity with everyone trying to get things in place for the already (by American standards) late Mass.  An older woman came into the sacristy and asked Fr. Raymundo if he could hear her confession.  He pointed towards me and the woman came towards me.  My eyes got big and my heart starting pounding rapidly.  I could not possibly hear her confession.   I thought my Spanish was not good enough for something like the sacrament of Reconciliation.  I had to tell her in Spanish that I would not be able to hear her confession.  She looked downcast and hurt.  Eventually Fr. Raymundo took her aside and heard her confession.

 So, what's the problem?  Well, I feel like I am in a moral dilemma here because I did not offer her the sacrament, and I also think that others in the sacristy did not look kindly on my actions. So.... here's what I am struggling with.  I am an official minister of the Church who is entrusted with administering the sacraments.  A person in need came to me but because of my Spanish capability I was not able to assist her.  I think of myself as a moderate in my theological beliefs.  I think that in the sacrament of Reconciliation the priest should be able to understand what the penitent is saying so that he can give a penance that is appropriate, not to mention be able to say the words of absolution in the language that the penitent can understand.  Because I could not do any of the aforementioned things, in  conscience I could not hear her confession.  Was I wrong? Should I have just let the woman confess, not knowing exactly what she was confessing and give her absolution? Was it more important that she wanted to confess or more important that I understand what she was confessing?  If it doesn't matter that the priest understands, then why go to a priest in the first place?  Why not be like our Protestant brothers and sisters and go directly to God?  I am also trying to balance my own feelings about being put in this position in the first place and what is commonplace in Mexico.  So, I am left wondering, what was the right thing to do???  Did I make an insensitive cultural mistake? Did I uphold the Church's understanding of sacramental theology over and above pastoral practice?  Yes, I am in a dilemma.... any thoughts?