Pope Francis has announced a Jubilee Year of Mercy, beginning December 8, 2015 and extending to November 20, 2016.
“It has been more than 15 years since Pope John Paul II declared the last Year of Jubilee, as the world entered the third millennium”, commented Bishop Richard Grecco, Diocese of Charlottetown. “Prophets in the Old Testament announced Jubilee Years and the Church has continued this biblical tradition inviting the people to spiritual renewal and re-invigoration.”
Pope Francis has suggested that the face of Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy and thus a primary mission of the Church is to bring mercy and compassion to humankind: “Wherever the Church is present the mercy of the Father must be evident…wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy.” (Pope Francis’ official announcement of the Year of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus, 12.)
The Jubilee Year of Mercy encourages Christians to transform their prayers and contemplation into action through “corporal and spiritual works of mercy”. These are fundamentally acts of compassion and love that address individuals’ physical needs (food, drink, clothing, housing, health care etc.) and spiritual concerns (lack of hope, lack of a sense of personal dignity, loneliness, a lack of a sense of belonging, a lack of a sense of support and solidarity etc.). Christians are to lift up each other along life’s journey, accompanying one another, with deeds of mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation. As author and Bishop Robert Barron put it: “Mercy is what love looks like when it turns toward the sinner.”
On Sunday, December 13, 2015, St. Dunstan’s Basilica will designate a Jubilee ‘Holy Door’ in a ceremony of blessing by the Bishop. This event will occur in every Catholic Cathedral in the world, inviting people to commit themselves to prayer and contemplation of God’s mercy. Throughout the Island, parish churches will also host additional services of adoration and reconciliation.
“As Church and followers of Christ we are called to a deep ‘change of heart’ and to pro-actively reach out to those in need of mercy and our personal support”, remarked Bishop Grecco.
For further information regarding the Year of Mercy, please contact rc@dioceseofcharlottetown or
phone 1-902-368-8005.