First Published on previous Province website on 28.10.2008

St. Patrick's Redemptorists Outreach at the Fringe Festival

The Redemptorists of Edinburgh have long been known for innovative and creative liturgy and outreach. This includes staging some spiritual events during one of the worlds biggest art festivals each August. One correspondent reviewing the contribution of the Redemptorists, attended and part
ipated in an event called "Confession is good for the Soul", opening the possibility of confession out for all who were interested. Of course, the sacramental form of absolution was used only with Catholics. The journalist notes; "I've never actually been to confession before, so I went to St. Patrick's Redemptorist Church. The priest was gentle and understanding, and the chance to 'get something of your chest' in a non-judgemental hearing was rather soothing. It turns out confession actually does feel good for the soul". The Redemptorists are also leading meditation for beginners sessions in August.  

The following text has been supplied by The Scottish Catholic Observer, a Newspaper in the UK:   15th August 2008

An Edinburgh parish is looking to build on the positive response to its Edinburgh Festival confessions debut last year by offering the same opportunity in this year's Fringe programme. The parish is well known as the first home of Edinburgh's Hibernian Football Club, set up in the mid-1870s.

Involvement

Fr. Ed hone, St. Patrick's parish priest, spoke to the SCO this week about the Fringe venture and was keen to stress that confession is non-sacramental for anyone who is not a Catholic. "There is a great mystique which surrounds confession and we are trying to use the curiosity that these people have and try to involve them," said Fr. Hone. He said that the reaction from last year's festival had been 'extremely positive' and that the slightly more relaxed format of confession prompted many Catholics who had been away from the Sacrament for many years to return, other Christians to avail of the opportunity. One person, describing himself as an atheist, wrote a very positive review of Confession on a Fringe website.

Welcoming

Fr. Hone said that one of the main objectives of the scheme was to 'reinforce the idea of the Church as a welcoming and open place'. "Too often the Church is viewed as a closed society and we hope the Edinburgh Festival initiatives can go some way to changing this," he said. "Four years ago we ran a very successful 'Welcome Back' programme at the festival, we staged 69 events, helping those who had left or felt they had been driven away from the Church, we felt this was a good way of bringing these people back into parish life," Said Fr. Hone.

Meditation

In addition to confessions, this year's festival will also see St. Patrick's running a Meditation for Beginners programme that offers a practical introduction to meditation in the Christian tradition. Fringe-goers who may have no experience at all of Christian prayer, or who are looking for help and inspiration in their prayer-life are invited to attend the 45 minute sessions which run from august 18 - 22 in the quiet and beautiful surroundings of St. Patrick's.