My thoughts now turn to the Mother of Mercy. May the sweetness of her countenance watch over us in this Holy Year, so that all of us may rediscover the joy of God’s tenderness. No one has penetrated the profound mystery of the incarnation like Mary. Her entire life was patterned after the presence of mercy made flesh. The Mother of the Crucified and Risen One has entered the sanctuary of divine mercy because she participated intimately in the mystery of His love. – Pope Francis,
Misericordiae Vultus (§24)
These beautiful words of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, turn our focus to the Blessed Virgin Mary – on this Saturday in the midst of Lent, a time for seeking the pardon of God -- how could we not consider the Blessed Mother under this title? As we seek to receive in abundance the mercy of God, here too we encounter the Mother of God – the one who is our Mother through the incredible waters of Baptism our definitive encounter with the forgiveness of God. We must never fail in seeking the aid, example, and intercession of the Mother of Mercy as we make our pilgrimage toward Heaven.
The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, on their website, have some helpful articles on this unique title of the Blessed Virgin Mary (familiar to us from the “Hail, Holy Queen)…
Here is a painting of “the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy” – artist, unknown.
Special Confessions during these unique days
These days are unique, in order to make available the Sacrament of Confession I have had to re-think the whole process.
With the help of the Parish Office Staff, Father Rothan, and, of course, many folks praying for this intention, I have procured the supplies and worked out a plan to make the Sacrament of Confession available in these strange days. The Confessional needed to preserve all necessary public health cautions – it would be terrible if a penitent or priest-confessor got sick – and give a generous respect for the dignity of the sacrament… so, here is what I got figured out: a tent and some traffic cones, with a piece of fence to serve as a sign board.
Today, Saturday, March 28
th is a bit of a ‘test run’ for Father Rothan and I (no doubt, there will be a few adjustments to be made -- and it will be a 'test run' in the rain!) for those who are able, a priest will be in the tent ready to absolve sins from 10 am – 2 pm in the Sacred Heart Church parking lot.
Some helpful directions: Enter the Sacred Heart Church parking lot from 8
th Street and proceed to the left around the building, there will be some traffic cones to help with orderly flow of traffic forming a line. Stop at the large piece of fence with some informational signage and wait there to go to Confession. If there are a few people in the car, leave the car parked at the waiting place and each person can walk-up to the tent, there’s a screened-window, and go to Confession. For folks who are alone in their car you can pull up very close to the tent and stop at the window – without hitting the tent – it like this should work nicely, but only time will tell.
In the coming days, all the registered households of our Parish will receive a Letter from me – a bit of an update – and it includes the following listing of times for Confession and other information to help during this prolonged time of restrictions and limitations. Today’s ‘test run’ is just that, a beginning of operations to see how this effort will work in practice. Just so you know, Father Rothan and I will offer Confessions in the tent in the parking lot according to this schedule:
Friday Afternoon from 3 pm – 7 pm
April 3 & April 10
Saturday Midday from 10 am – 2 pm
April 4 & April 11
And … continuing on Saturdays from 10 am- 2 pm, as the restrictions remain in place.
One final request: I would sincerely appreciate a few prayers for the safety and good order of this effort to make the Sacrament of Confession available to the faithful… and your patience, if you take advantage of it, as I figure out how to make this work.
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
Father Wilke
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!