Jubilee Year of Mercy

Parishes begin observances for the
Jubilee Year of Mercy

STIRLING  As Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors Dec. 8 at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, to begin the Jubilee Year of Mercy for the universal Church, numerous parishes throughout the Paterson Diocese, including St. Vincent de Paul here, were starting their observances of the Holy Year by swinging open the spiritual “doors of mercy” — inviting parishioners to deep and lasting conversion by receiving the gift of the Lord’s forgiveness and then sharing that mercy with others.

This month, parishes around the Diocese have been holding an array of spiritual and faith-formation events for the Jubilee Year of Mercy — from presentations on the Holy Year and other aspects of mercy and small-group sharing to opening Masses on Dec. 8, Adoration, Penance services and opportunities to receive Confession — that highlight God’s forgiveness. Many local faith communities have tied these Holy Year activities for December into their celebrations of Advent. One of the many faith communities that held opening liturgies on Dec. 8 was St. Vincent’s, which was followed by a “teaching and insight” on the writings of Pope Francis in “Misericordiae Vultus” (“The Face of Mercy”) by Father Richard Carton, pastor.

“Mercy is the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us. Mercy is the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life. Mercy is the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever, despite our sinfulness,” said Father Carton in his summery of the Holy Father’s document — a presentation that he described as an overview of and “road map” for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. “Let us place the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the center once more in such as way that it will enable people touch the grandeur of God’s mercy with their own hands. This is the opportune time to change our lives. All one needs to do is to accept the invitation to conversion and submit oneself to justice during this special time of mercy offered by the Church,” the priest said.

During his talk, Father Carton emphasized, “We need a Year of Mercy. We need to be merciful as God is merciful. It’s the way that the Church shows the face of Christ.” The Mass and presentation — as well as the pastor’s visit to the parish school to speak about the Holy Year — kicked off St. Vincent’s observances for the Holy Year. They also will include monthly presentations by members of the parish community on various aspects of mercy, including areas of social justice, Divine Mercy and marriage and parenting, Father Carton said.

Many parishes expect to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors in the Diocese that Bishop Serratelli opened on Dec. 13: one at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Morristown, and Holy Rosary Church/Shrine of St. John Paul II, Passaic. During the Holy Year, Pope Francis is granting a plenary indulgence — which removes all temporal punishment due for sins — to Catholics, who make a pilgrimage and pass through a Holy Door, whether in Rome or in their own dioceses. They also have to make a “worthy sacramental Confession, receive Holy Communion, recite the Creed and pray the Our Father for the intentions of the Holy Father,” the bishop wrote in his recent pastoral letter, “The Jubilee of Mercy and the Promise of Christ.”

St. Simon the Apostle Parish, Green Pond, also opened the Jubilee Year of Mercy on Dec. 6 with a special Mass. After, Father Richard Bay, pastor, presented to a “full house” of parishioners a catechesis that answered questions, such as “What is the Year of Mercy?” “What is a Holy Year?” What is a Jubilee Year?” “What is a Holy Door?” and “What is a plenary indulgence?” That day, the parish also distributed copies of Bishop Serratelli’s pastoral letter, cards that display the Prayer for the Year of Mercy and pamphlets about the Holy Year. In addition, parishioners made a craft to place on their refrigerators: a felt Cross that displays the words “God Loves You” and radiates beams of “love and mercy out to all of us,” Father Bay said.

“God’s mercy is available during this Holy Year. We should take advantage of it,” said Father Bay, who noted that St. Simon’s plans to tie in its Jubilee Year of Mercy activities — which will include a Bible study about God’s mercy in Scripture and participation in a deanery-wide retreat — with the parish’s 70th anniversary next year.

So far this month, Christ the King Parish, New Vernon, started to make Confession available on Saturdays, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. St. Vincent Martyr Parish, Madison, started an Adult Conversation Series and held an Advent Penance Service. Assumption Parish, Morristown, held presentations about “Credo— I Believe” and “Our Lady of Mercy” by its Young Professionals ministry and “Experiencing God’s Mercy After Divorce” by Vince and Monica Frese of divorcedcatholic.com and an Advent mission by Father Mariusz Koch, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal.

Also in Morris County, St. Virgil Parish, Morris Plains, started to pray for mercy through its Living Rosary group, which includes homebound seniors praying in their homes, overseen by two coordinators. “The goal is to make the Church of St. Virgil’s a powerhouse of prayer — each of us whispering each day a small prayer for someone, maybe ourselves, who needs mercy; it can be as simple as ‘God grant mercy to a hurting soul,’ ” the faith community’s bulletin states.

For the rest of the Holy Year, St. Virgil’s plans hold other observances, such as fundraising for charity by various ministries and selling copies of compact discs about evangelization by the Evangelization Team. The parish also plans to place an emphasis on mercy during its regular services, outreaches and activities, said Father Lancelot Reis, pastor.

“Mercy has to begin with each one of us. We should become better people and parishioners with more Penance and more charity, performing the works of mercy,” Father Reis said. “We should strive to become new people, who are beginning new relationship with God and with others.”