Following a successful model he crafted at Holy Spirit Parish in Fremont three years ago, Rev. Mathew Vellankal has brought drive-through prayer to his new parish, St. Bonaventure in Concord.

“Pope Francis has said we should go to the peripheries” to reach people, Father Vellankal said, and people seek spirituality.

“People might be sick, have lost a job, have someone who is gravely ill, and they don’t know where to go,” Father Vellankal said.

The program is geared to catch commuters on their way home; they can turn off Clayton Road into the church driveway, where they are directed by teams of volunteers to others who’ll help the driver with a short prayer.

“You don’t have to get out of your car. It’s fast — God on the go,” Father Vellankal said.

The drive-through prayer runs from 5-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; prayers are limited to no more than three minutes; no names are given, and no details. The prayers aren’t formal; they’re spontaneous.

“I’ve been waiting for something like this to happen,” said volunteer coordinator Kathy Geyerman, a St. Bonaventure parishioner for 33 years. “I just close my eyes and let the Holy Spirit fill my lips.”

About 30 cars came through in one hour on the program’s first, rainy night Nov. 13. Father had little trouble getting about 25 adults and 25 young people to volunteer for the program.

Full story at The Catholic Voice.