On Tuesday 19 March, the feast of St Joseph, a host of churches across Melbourne will be open for an evening of prayer and the sacrament of Reconciliation as part of the inaugural ‘Mercy Melbourne’ event.
More than 40 parishes are currently involved in this Archdiocese-wide event, with more joining the ranks.
Fr Dean Mathieson, who is helping coordinate the event, says he had noticed similar initiatives running in various dioceses around the world. Many dioceses in the United States have for many years run ‘The Light is ON for You’ campaign, where every church in the diocese participates in opening the churches on a particular evening in Lent.
The simple concept picks up on the fact that many parishes already have some sort of service during Lent where there is the extra opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation.
‘Doing this together is an opportunity for parishes across Melbourne to be a sign of unity in reminding all of the importance of offering God’s healing grace through this sacrament of forgiveness.’
‘In the midst of so much confusion and division, in the Church and the world, it seems obvious that we need to get back to some of the basics of what we do—offer the sacraments. And here’s an opportunity to promote that.’
On our own, we can go off in all sorts of directions, and we need that reminder that we have a God who is so powerful, who loves us so much, and that we can be forgiven and start again.
‘Hopefully it puts on the radar that this is what we do. Perhaps in a time where there is so much confusion about the ideas of sin and forgiveness, this is a reminder about the simplicity and power of the sacraments.’
Fr Dean says that experiencing the sacraments is foundational for the Christian life. They have certainly helped him throughout his journey of faith.
‘They remind us that we desperately need the help, the saving, the healing,’ he explains. ‘On our own, we can go off in all sorts of directions, and we need that reminder that we have a God who is so powerful, who loves us so much, and that we can be forgiven and start again. There’s an extraordinary power in that vulnerability, in reminding us that maybe we can’t fix it all, [that] we do need a God to help us, to help us start again.’
The Mercy Melbourne event will fall by chance—or by Providence—on the feast of St Joseph. The example of Joseph, particularly as a person of courage, is good for us to look to.
‘Sometimes it takes courage to go to Confession, especially if we haven’t been in a while. Looking to St Joseph, the great model of courage, might help us.’
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli has been very supportive of this initiative, saying, ‘This evening is an opportunity for all to experience the love that flows from the merciful heart of the Father.’
He welcomes the opportunity for parishes ‘to make it as easy as possible for all Catholics to experience the grace of the sacrament as we prepare for the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord.’
View the participating parishes here.
Parishes who want to sign up and open their churches from 6pm to 9pm on Tuesday 19 March to hear confessions are invited to fill out this simple form.
