At the Opening Mass the Diocese will follow the recommendation of Pope Francis’ that each Diocese hold a liturgy in which a Holy Door at its Cathedral is symbolically opened to begin the Year. The Pope, himself, will preside over an Opening Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
As was done at St. Peter’s Basilica, a door at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral was ceremonially sealed on Oct. 31 in preparation for the opening Mass.
“It’s an act of welcome and hospitality, especially toward the poor and marginalized,” says Sister Jeremy Gallet, SP, Director of the Diocesan Office of Worship, of the ritual. “The idea of opening wide a door of mercy is what’s behind this, but you have to seal it before you open it.”
Once the Year of Mercy has commenced a number of observances that are symbolic, catechetical or service oriented will take place. Bishop Barnes has asked each of the 92 parishes in the Diocese to create a Mercy Cross that will serve as a visual sign of the community’s journey in the Jubilee Year. Parishes will process with their Cross at the Closing Mass for the Year of Mercy.
Catholic schools, diocesan ministries, prayer groups and Catholic families are also encouraged to create their own Mercy Cross.
The cross could be “displayed in the home and serve as a place for praying together and sharing faith,” Bishop Barnes suggests in his Pastoral Letter on the Year of Mercy (read it in full on page 2).
A committee of Diocesan and Parish leaders was convened by Bishop Barnes during the summer to formulate potential activities and events for the Year of Mercy.
“The work of the Committee has been to suggest how we might be more merciful as a Church through prayer and reflection, renewed catechesis and acts of service,” said Sister Chilee Okoko, D.M.M.M., Director of the Ministry of Life, Dignity and Justice for the Diocese and Chair of the Year of Mercy Committee. “Thanks be to God that there are already many people and places in our Diocese where mercy is seen and lived.”
The Diocese will bring all of the parishes together to reflect on the Year of Mercy at the Combined Vicariate meeting on February 3 at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Parish in Yucaipa. Father Erik Esparza will offer a video series on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, of which Pope Francis has called for a renewed catechesis during the Jubilee. Other local efforts proposed for the Year of Mercy include:
A pool of speakers (retired priests, deacons or lay leaders) who will be able, upon request, to lead seminars, facilitate retreats, recollections and days of prayer in parishes or vicariates on the topic of Mercy.
Sites in each vicariate for the faithful to make a pilgrimage (Pope Francis encourages this in the Bull of Indiction: Misericordiae Vultus). Pilgrimage sites could be shrines (recommended by the Vatican) or at ministry locations where mercy is prominent (soup kitchens, shelters, free health clinics, Catholic Charities).
A Marian celebration based on Mary’s fiat and the Magnificat. These celebrations could include holding a vicariate Rosary procession, promoting devotion to Our Lady, and concluding with a Mass celebrating the Blessed Mother.
Intentional focus on diocesan and parish ministries that directly serve the marginalized, including: the incarcerated (Restorative Justice), the poor and hungry (Social Concerns, parish food pantries/banks), immigrants (Justice for Immigrants Campaign), women and men wounded by abortion (Rachel’s Hope and Healing), divorced Catholics (Canonical Services), the elderly and/or infirm (Life, Dignity and Justice).
Since God’s mercy is expressed profoundly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Bishop Barnes has asked that parishes within each vicariate coordinate with each other to increase the number of hours that the faithful can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A vicariate schedule of Confession hours would be created and posted in parishes. In addition, parishes in each vicariate can come together to designate a day/night when Confessionals are open for 24 consecutive hours.
Beyond plans and recommendations for the Year of Mercy that are offered by the Diocese, Bishop Barnes said in his Pastoral Letter that he anticipates parishes will embrace the spirit of the Jubilee and come up with creative observances of their own.
“….engagement, creativity and freedom at the local level will be key to having a truly transformative experience of Mercy,” the Bishop writes. “In other words, we must take ownership of the Year of Mercy in our lived reality of faith.”