Manado (Fides Service) - As a special initiative for the Season of Lent this year the clergy of the diocese in Manado on the island of Sulawesi, east Indonesia are celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation at home for Catholics in remote villages, particularly the elderly and the sick.
The125,000 Catholics in the diocese of Manado which has a population of 4.4 million always live Lent with intensity and they are particularly devoted to the Eucharist local sources told Fides. The people are mainly farmers and fishermen and many have difficulty in getting to a church.
According to APIC local news agency to meet the needs of the faithful the priests have become “travelling priests” and this helps also to build stronger ties between clergy and people, and build a sense of family between the parish priest and the families.
The priests say the new initiative is highly successful and the people welcomed the initiative. The faithful, the priests say, are very grateful for this special effort to assure them of an opportunity to prepare well for Easter and fulfil their ‘Easter duties’ with the celebration of God’s merciful forgiveness and grace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/03/2005 Righe: 23 Parole: 246)