The Jubilee Year of Mercy in the Catholic Church, proclaimed by Pope
Francis and opened on 8 December last, will draw to a close over the
next two weekends.
On Sunday 20 November, the feast of Jesus Christ,
Universal King, the Pope will close Holy Door at St Peter’s in Rome.
In the Diocese of Clogher the closing of the Jubilee Year of Mercy
will be marked at the 12.30pm Mass in Saint Macartan’s Cathedral,
Monaghan on Sunday 13 November.
In addition, each parish will celebrate
the event at Masses on Sunday next, with prayers and hymns that focus on
mercy and on thanksgiving for the jubilee. Resources have been provided
to all parishes by the Diocesan Liturgy Commission.
In keeping with the wish of Pope Francis that the jubilee be
celebrated in each local Church (diocese), the year was marked in
Clogher dDocese by a number of events, including gatherings of priests
and laity which reflected on mercy in today’s world.
A Door of Mercy was
opened by Bishop Liam MacDaid at Saint Macartan’s Cathedral in December
last and another was opened at Saint Patrick’s Basilica on Lough Derg
by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Browne, in May of this year.
These Holy Doors have been the points of pilgrimage for many during the
year.
Another major highlight in Clogher Diocese was the ’24 Hours for the
Lord’ initiative, celebrated in all parishes in March, when every person
was invited and welcomed to churches to experience God’s loving mercy.
Other local events included pilgrimages, group reflections of the Gospel
of Luke (the Gospel of mercy and compassion), and various other
initiatives.
Speaking at his General Audience on 16 December 2015, Pope Francis
said, “mercy and forgiveness must not remain as pleasant words, but must
be made manifest in daily life. Loving and forgiving are tangible and
visible signs that faith has transformed our hearts and allow us to
express God’s very life in ourselves. Loving and forgiving as God loves
and forgives”.
Speking about the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy in the Diocese
of Clogher, Gary Carville, Diocesan Communications Officer said, “The
Diocese of Clogher is set to ensure that the work of mercy must continue
to be the lived reality of the Church’s mission in proclaiming the
Gospel to the world, through its witness. In a diocese that includes the
shrine of Saint Patrick’s Purgatory at Lough Derg, this challenge has
added resonance and responsibility.”