Amazing Mercy Bus Project receives blessing from Pope Francis

The bus is set to be blessed by Bishop Arnold next weekend as well.

Pope Francis blessed the Diocese of Salford's Mercy Bus, which is a double-decker bus that features available priests to hear Confession.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Catholic Herald reported the bus will be touring parts of Greater Manchester and Lancashire. It will have live music and volunteers to distribute flyers to invitations to get on board.

Bishop John Arnold of Salford explained, "The Mercy Bus is a way of reaching out to people who might not otherwise have contact with the Church. We are going to them, rather than expecting them to come to us."

Pope Francis blessed the Mercy Bus project then appeared before a crowd with a large card of the bus. Badges the Diocese of Salford will be giving out were also blessed by the Pope.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Secretary for Relatins with States, provided a VIP ticket for Father Frankie Mulgrew, one of the three priests who will be available for Confession on the bus.

Mulgrew presented the project to the pontiff and later joined the other two Fathers, Fr. Michael Cooke and Fr. Duncan McVicar, to say: "Following the example of Jesus who spoke in synagogues and also brought the gospel on the streets, on hilltops, at dinner in people's homes. 

"We were inspired by the Pope. In fact, when he served as cardinal in Argentina, the Holy Father would officiate open-air Masses in the poorest areas of the country. The fact that Francis approaches ordinary people travelling to their workplaces or bringing their children to school, testifies to the love and the compassion of God. It's also an important commitment for evangelisation which we seek to mirror through our bus."

The idea for the Mercy Bus was realized following Pope Francis' announcement of the jubilee year. The Year of Mercy, which began on December 8, is meant to celebrate God's mercy and forgiveness of sins.

Though Pope Francis has blessed the Mercy Bus, Bishop Arnold is expected to give another blessing next Saturday. The bus will then hit the streets, shopping centers, schools and prisons between the hours of 11 am to 4 pm every Saturday until Easter.

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