There are times and situations that we all face where we feel we are behind on something and need to catch up. That was the case for me this morning when I got an e-mail from Malea at the Arkansas Catholic, asking all pastors to submit a listing of all parish activities that have been planned for the extraordinary Jubilee "Year of Mercy" that has been proclaimed and promulgated by Pope Francis and runs from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016.
Traditionally, Popes declare "Holy Years" every 25 years, and call for special celebrations and pilgrimages as well as opportunities for spiritual growth, firstly through the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Extraordinary Holy Years are less frequent, but offer similar opportunities for spiritual growth. If you are interested in reading the Papal Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy by Pope Francis, you can find it through our website or by "googling" Year of Mercy USCCB, and clicking on the line that will take you to this Bull.
The Diocese of Little Rock is offering the opportunity for groups to go "on pilgrimage" to a disignated "Holy Door of Mercy" at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock with the opportunity for Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and tours of the House of Formation, every First Saturday of the month starting in February. I hope groups in our parish will consider planning for its members and fellow parishioners to go on pilgrimage on one of these First Saturdays and experience many blessing for doing so.
I am planning to offer more opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Jubilee Year, including, perhaps, a third Reconciliation Service or Penance Service outside of the normal times during Advent and Lent, and am hoping my brothers priests in the area might consider making themselves available for this healing Sacrament at our parish and I, at theirs. We will also look for at least one adult study on this topic during the Jubilee year.
At this point, I am open to suggestions on other spiritual, educational, and charitable acts of mercy that we might offer, over and above the many wonderful things we are already doing in the parish and in the community. You are welcome to e-mail ideas to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I also challenge all of our commissions to come up with ideas and proposals for us to do in this coming "Year of Mercy." While I must admit I am not ready to submit any plans or activities of our parish to the Arkansas Catholic for publication November 21, I can assure you that we, as a parish, will take the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy seriously, and find ways to make it a blessing for ourselves and others.
Traditionally, Popes declare "Holy Years" every 25 years, and call for special celebrations and pilgrimages as well as opportunities for spiritual growth, firstly through the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Extraordinary Holy Years are less frequent, but offer similar opportunities for spiritual growth. If you are interested in reading the Papal Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy by Pope Francis, you can find it through our website or by "googling" Year of Mercy USCCB, and clicking on the line that will take you to this Bull.
The Diocese of Little Rock is offering the opportunity for groups to go "on pilgrimage" to a disignated "Holy Door of Mercy" at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock with the opportunity for Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and tours of the House of Formation, every First Saturday of the month starting in February. I hope groups in our parish will consider planning for its members and fellow parishioners to go on pilgrimage on one of these First Saturdays and experience many blessing for doing so.
I am planning to offer more opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Jubilee Year, including, perhaps, a third Reconciliation Service or Penance Service outside of the normal times during Advent and Lent, and am hoping my brothers priests in the area might consider making themselves available for this healing Sacrament at our parish and I, at theirs. We will also look for at least one adult study on this topic during the Jubilee year.
At this point, I am open to suggestions on other spiritual, educational, and charitable acts of mercy that we might offer, over and above the many wonderful things we are already doing in the parish and in the community. You are welcome to e-mail ideas to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I also challenge all of our commissions to come up with ideas and proposals for us to do in this coming "Year of Mercy." While I must admit I am not ready to submit any plans or activities of our parish to the Arkansas Catholic for publication November 21, I can assure you that we, as a parish, will take the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy seriously, and find ways to make it a blessing for ourselves and others.