Glenamaddy church’s drive-thru for Lent

The drive-thru is generally associated with fast food outlets – more hamburger than Heaven – but one Catholic Church in North Galway aims to adapt the facility to their own benefit this Lent.

Because, in an effort to reach out to the local community and to facilitate those who might find it difficult to make it into the Church, Glenamaddy’s Pastoral Council has built a Lenten Petition Box at the entrance to the Church grounds.

“This isn`t to replace a visit to the Church, if this is what you prefer to do,” explained Glenamaddy PP Fr Paddy Mooney.

“But, for people who may be in rush or feel uncomfortable going in to the church, the Church is reaching out to you, too.

“The Church is for everyone. At various times in all our lives, we need someone to pray for us.  If you need prayer, that’s what this petition box is for,” he added.

This Lenten Petition box is accessible 24 hours a day and people can place their petitions in the box and drive thru – and these private intentions will be prayed for at Mass each week in Glenamaddy Church.

And that’s not all – because the parish has also decided to offer people the opportunity to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday – which occurs next week – without having to leave their cars.

“This may benefit people who may be sick, find it difficult to walk, people on their way to work, families on their way to school or anyone who would like to receive ashes but may not be able to attend the traditional Mass,” said Fr Mooney.

Ashes will still be administered in the tradition way at 10am in Williamstown church and 7pm in Glenamaddy church – but commuters will have the opportunity to receive ashes from 8am to 9.30am outside of Glenamaddy Church.

“These are non-traditional ways of doing things – but we feel that, if the Church is to be meaningful to people, it must adapt to suit people’s needs,” admitted a Parish Council spokesperson.

“The traditional Church, as older people remember it – with two Masses on a Sunday and, maybe, two priests concelebrating; confessions for 2 hours on a Saturday; weekday Masses attended by large numbers of people – is not meeting the needs of today`s generation.

“Church is really about what people do, how they connect and how they live out what the church teaches us.

“With a huge decline in vocations to the priesthood and ageing priests burdened heavily with extra work, people have had to get used to change, and will have to accept more changes in the foreseeable future,” they added.

Glenamaddy Pastoral Council hopes that these two Lenten initiatives will touch people in their own community and beyond – with an innovative move that makes life a little easier for all.

“If you pass the church, when Mass isn`t on, put your petition in the box and rest assured that it will be included in the Masses during Lent.

“And if you are passing the Church on Ash Wednesday morning, drive through the Church grounds and get the cross on your forehead,” concluded the Council spokesperson.