‘Mercy on the Mall’ is in its fifth year in Co Clare
‘Mercy on the Mall,’ where priests hear confessions for Christmas shoppers, returned to a Co Clare mall this year for the fifth time.
Read More: Priests provide confession to Christmas shoppers at malls
Clare FM reports that the Bishop of Killaloe, along with 15 priests from across the diocese, attended the Skycourt Shopping Center in Co Clare on December 6 in order to hear confession from Christmas shoppers.
Delighted to be in the Skycourt Shopping Centre today @ShannonParish67 @KillaloeDiocese for Confessions, ‘Mercy on the Mall’. #Advent pic.twitter.com/niJAY2qBYS
— + Fintan Monahan (@BishopFintan) December 6, 2019
Ahead of the annual event, Fr Arnold Rosney, one of the co-founders of the initiative, told RTE Radio 1 that the idea came about in 2015 when Pope Francis declared a year of mercy.
“We decided to bring the sacrament of reconciliation to the community, rather than have them come to the church or to a sacred building, that we would go ourselves to where they are at, and no better place than a shopping center just before Christmas.”
Fr Rosney said four priests would be available each hour “for a chat or a blessing” with whoever stopped by.
The priest said he hasn’t “heard of one negative comment on it yet,” adding that “business is very brisk with us!”
Read More: Priests hear Christmas shoppers' confessions at Irish mall
Thank you to everyone who made our ‘Mercy on the Mall’ so successful. To
— Shannon Parish (@ShannonParish67) December 6, 2019
the 16 priests with @BishopFintan @McDonnellAlbert who celebrated the sacrament and to Dan and Skycourt for their great support. God bless you and your families. pic.twitter.com/J1NeLLEQY2
Do you think 'Mercy on the Mall' is a good idea? Let us know in the comments!
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