IRELAND’S FIRST ever drive-through confirmation took place in a car park over in Limerick this week.
Like so much in Ireland, confirmations have been put on hold over the past few months while the Church makes the necessary changes to ensure services continue in the “new normal”.
However, this past Wednesday, August 5, saw Parish priest Fr. Roy Donovan recommence these important religious services, albeit with a unique socially-distanced twist.
Despite wet and rainy conditions, the Irish priest braved the elements to conduct a unique drive-through confirmation ceremony outside Caherline Church, Co. Limerick.
Decked out in his usual vestments, Fr. Donovan was able to keep dry despite the inclement weather by donning waterproof gear.
According to the Irish Examiner, he had originally hoped to conduct an open-air ceremony for the children in attendance.
Unfortunately, the weather decided otherwise, with Fr. Donovan instead opting to deliver confirmations to a car park full of cars.
Sun shines for Ireland's first drive-through confirmation https://t.co/BB7wdrXj0s
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) August 5, 2020
Each of the vehicles contained the confirmation child, positioned to face the priest while he spoke in front of a makeshift altar.
According to the report, the church hosted a total of 37 school pupils – 25 sixth class and 26 fifth class – were confirmed over the course of a busy day that began as miserable and rainy but ended in bright sunshine.
Drive-through religious services are nothing new in Ireland.
Last year, a record number of people on the Emerald Isle took advantage of drive-through Ash Wednesday services.
There could be even more to come if Irish priests end up taking inspiration from our friends across the Atlantic.
In the US, one priest has already begun delivering socially distanced drive-by blessings involving a water pistol, while it’s a similar story when it comes to baptisms.
