A CHURCH in Ireland will host a drive-thru service on Ash Wednesday to make sure busy parishioners don’t miss out.
St Patrick’s Church in Glenamaddy, Galway is implementing the system for parishioners on the go – so they don’t even have to leave the comfort of their vehicle to receive a blessing.
Fr Paddy Mooney will be on hand outside the church this Wednesday with his bowl of ashes, so that as many people as possible can start Easter the way Jesus would have wanted.
Drivers will be allowed to swing into the church grounds to get their forehead marked with ash, before leaving through the opposite gate.
The church say that tractor drivers are also welcome to get their foreheads stamped.
“We looked at the situation on the ground. People and families are on the move all the time,” Fr Paddy told the Irish Catholic.
“It’s about meeting people where they are. We’re just putting the initiative in front of people to help them think of Lent, as a reminder of it.”
A Lenten box will be available at the drive-thru service – which takes place between 8am and 9.30am – for drivers to make a contribution.
The Glenamaddy pastoral council decided to implement the service to meet the busy lives of farmers and the local community at large.
They accept that these are non-traditional methods but feel they must adapt to suit the modern needs of people.
