AS part of Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy, the Redemptorists of Clonard Monastery will be available for confession in their Mercy Tent in the Kennedy Centre this weekend.
On Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November the Redemptorists will be available for confession and a chat from 5pm to 9pm on Friday evening and 11am to 3pm on Saturday.
The priests will be seated in a gazebo structure, opposite the food court on the first floor, ready to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with those who wish to receive or to listen to those who want a chat or an ear to listen. A comfortable, prayerful atmosphere will be created and Clonard volunteers and co-workers will also be in the centre pointing members of the public in the right direction.
The Mercy Tent is a way of reaching out to people who might not otherwise have contact with the Church. Pope Francis asked for a ‘Church on the Streets.’ This is an attempt to bring the mission of Clonard to the people of West Belfast. It’s not the first time that Clonard has done this type of outreach – the ‘Novena on the Streets’ initiative last May was a great success.
Clonard’s Holy Door will be closed by Bishop Treanor on Sunday November 13 at 11am Mass and this visit to the Kennedy Centre will be the final event in what has been a busy Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Year of Mercy will officially end on Sunday, November 20, Feast of Christ the King. Sunday Mass times at Clonard are 7am, 9.30am, 11am and 12.30pm.
John Jones, Manager of the Kennedy Centre, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this at the Kennedy Centre, we have always had a good relationship with Clonard and this is just strengthening that relationship, we are delighted to be the first shopping centre to try this out.”
