It happens in England
The diocese of Salford is promoting a set of initiatives to live the Holy Year in full, involving also non-believers and those who left the Church. In addition to the “Mercy Bus”, that will stop by shopping centres, prisons and public squares, under the coordination of three priests and young volunteers, the proposal envisages a “mobile” Holy door for schools
A double-decker bus with the picture of Pope Francis and three priests offering blessings and confessions, as well as mere conversation. It’s an initiative of the diocese of Salford, north of England, to celebrate the Year of Mercy indicted by Pope Francis.
Priests, volunteers and music. They called it the ”Mercy Bus”. It will travel across cities in the north of England during the Lenten period to reach those who never went to church or have drifted away from religious practice. A decorative banner on the bus will offer the “Sacrament of reconciliation or Confession”, a “Blessing for life”, and “Conversation.” On board, three priests will offer their services to passersby. Near them, young volunteers will perform live religious music, thereby attracting the attention of passersby, distributing badges blessed by the Pope, and encouraging people to hop on the bus. “We were inspired by the Pope. In fact, when he served as cardinal in Argentina, the Holy Father would officiate open-air Masses in the poorest areas of the Country”, said Frank Mulgrew, one of the priests on board of the bus. “The fact that Francis approaches ordinary people travelling to their workplaces or bringing their children to school, testifies to the love and the compassion of God. It’s also an important commitment for evangelization which we seek to mirror though our bus”.
“We want to get out of the comforts of our churches and reach out to people in the places that are part of their everyday life to bring them the love of God”.
Kick-off in February. The Mercy Bus will be blessed by bishop John Arnold, responsible of the diocese of Salford on February 6 2016, the first Saturday of Lent. Then the bus will start its journey across shopping centres, schools and prisons: areas that are usually unreached by the sacraments of reconciliation and by the Eucharist. Every Saturday up to Easter, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m, Fr Frank Mulgrew and other two priests, Fr. Michael Cooke and Fr Duncan McVicar, will tour Manchester, Salford, Burnley e Blackburn, towns in the north of England, “following the example of Jesus who spoke in synagogues and also brought the Gospel on the streets, on hilltops, at dinner in people’s homes”, added Fr Mulgrew.
The “Pope” effect. “I happen to meet many Catholics who have drifted away from the Church, but who speak warmly of the Pope”, added Fr Mulgrew.
“Francis has paved the way offering us an opportunity for conversation with people who have not attended Mass service for years and perhaps never have”.
Thanks to what the Pope has done and to what he continues doing we are able to communicate with them. With his example Francis has erected a bridge, a testimony to bring joy and the hope of God to people who are very distant from God.”
Also a Holy door. The Mercy Bus is but one of many initiatives promoted by the diocese of Salford for the Year of Mercy. In fact, the program envisages guided retreats and a “mobile” Holy door that will be brought into all primary and secondary schools, encouraging pupils to build their own liturgy around it, prompting reflection on how to be become more merciful. In addition, the “Mercy Brothers” musical band, consisting of four priests and seminarians, will stage a show, dedicated to God’s love and goodness, in Catholic schools and parishes.
The Diocese of Salford has also made available for retreats and prayer pilgrimage sites such as Wardley Hall, a medieval dwelling where lives the diocesan bishop.
One conversion is enough. Fr Mulgrew explained that return of even just one person to the sacrament of reconciliation, after years of distance from the Church, will be sufficient to justify the tour that will be advertised also on lay media in the diocese of Salford. “We naturally hope that God has more material in stock for us”, the priest added, admitting that going out from the safe walls of the church into the streets is not an easy task. “I pray a lot to prepare myself and I say to God that even if I don’t have all the strength, with His help I will succeed”.
