‘The Name of God is Mercy’

YEAR OF MERCY  Processing through the city of Passaic, more than 500 Hispanic Catholics recently joined together for a convocation cele­brating the Year of Mercy .With St. Mary Assumption Church in Passaic in the background, Deacon Eugenio Morales carries the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament.

PASSAIC  It was a moment of mercy for more than 500 Hispanic Catholics of the Paterson Diocese as they joined together to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy during a diocesan convocation held at St. Mary’s Assumption Church here and the diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II at Holy Rosary Parish here. The Spanish-language event included prayer services, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, an outdoor procession and presentations by Franciscan Father Gonzalo Torres, parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Pompton Lakes, and Father Enrique Corona, pastor of St. Agnes and St. Michael parishes in Paterson.

In his presentation, Father Torres reflected on Pope Francis’ book, “The Name of God is Mercy.” The Franciscan priest said, “I talked to the people about mercy and how we can be merciful. The Pope shows us through dialogue with can bring peace that is needed in the world today. The Year of Mercy has been a very successful year. Pope Francis has been a pastor not just to Catholics but also to the whole world. He is bringing people together. He has called each of us to welcome every person and to see Christ in each of them.”

Father Torres also talked about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the need for people to go to Confession. He also spoke to his brother priests about being confessors. “We are to be priests and not to judge the people. We are to bring about God’s mercy.”

A highlight of the daylong event was a visit to one of the diocesan Holy Doors at the Shrine of St. John Paul II. The hundreds of participants who attended the Hispanic convocation filled the streets of Passaic in a prayerful procession following Blessed Sacrament, which was held on high by priests and deacons for the mile-long walk.

True pilgrims in a sense, Deacon Guido Pedraza, diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry, said, “The procession was a moving experience especially because of the area. Many bystanders joined the procession and it stayed very peaceful and prayerful. One lady walking from the hospital joined the procession because she was so moved by it.”

At the Shrine of St. John Paul II, the “pilgrims” then walked through the Holy Doors, which were designated by Bishop Serratelli last December following Pope Francis’ call that each diocese open a Holy Door through which pilgrims can journey. These doors represent the compassion, love, mercy and consolation of God. The second Holy Door in the diocese is at St. Margaret Church in Morristown.

Once at the shrine at Holy Rosary Church, the participants had the opportunity receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Seven priests were available to hear their confessions.

Deacon Pedraza said, “The lines were very long for Confession, which shows how much people desire God’s mercy. Before the Blessed Sacrament, we prayed about forgiveness and in thanksgiving for what God has given us.”

Celebrating the Year of Mercy as a community was important for the Hispanic Catholics of the Diocese. “The Year of Mercy has been a special opportunity to have an encounter with the Lord and share his mercy with others. It is important to reconcile and to receive forgiveness. This year, we have been given the gift to find the Lord in our lives,” said Deacon Pedraza.