I was in Our Lady of Visitation Church in Nairobi, Kenya one Good Friday
morning. There were long lines for the Sacrament of Reconciliation — both on
my side of the church and across the aisle where another priest was "hearing
confessions" too. Then suddenly no one came into the confessional. I was
puzzled since I knew many people had been waiting outside. I opened the
confessional door and looked out. The church was deserted. Not a person in
sight. The other priest looked out also and saw the same empty church.
Since everybody
had gone to the front door of the large church that borders a highway called
Jogoo Road we followed too. Then we heard the roar of the racing car engines.
It was the East African Safari Rally and the lead cars were just passing in
front of the church. The other priest and I avidly watched the cars pass then
we went back to our confessionals. Soon the people returned and celebration of
the sacrament went on exactly as before.