There are three forms of Penance. Under certain circumstances, one of the three will most appropriately fit. The three forms are Individual, Communal, and General Absolution.
Individual, the most common form is one-on-one confession with the priest. Because the confession is individual, the absolution is also individual.
Communal Penance is a group prayer service. This usually consists of individual confession and absolution.
Lastly, General Absolution is done only under the most extreme circumstances. This only happens when there is no time for individual confession. After this, all the people in the group receive an absolution. For example, if a priest is on an airplane that is going down, he can absolve everyone who is sorry for their sins and wishes to receive the sacrament.