THE Jubilee Year of Mercy started on December 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception. A Vigil for Peace was celebrated in the parish on Wednesday December 9 to begin the Year with just over 30 parishioners participating.
According to Pope Francis, his intention is to allow priests to grant absolution for abortion and to validate all absolutions granted by priests of the Society of St Pius X. He will also send out special ministers of absolution. These decisions originally scandalised some legalists and fundamentalists. But mercy is ‘scandalous’ precisely because it excludes no one. I believe that mercy defines Catholicism. And I define mercy as the willingness to enter into the chaos of another. (For more reading on Mercy go to the website of Thinking Faith http://www.thinkingfaith.org/
Archbishop Denis Hart will open a special Holy Door of Mercy at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday December 13 at 2.30pm.
“The Holy Door will become a Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God, who consoles, pardons and invites hope”. (Pope Francis).