Year of Mercy from Global to Local

12-27-2015Weekly ReflectionFr. Brian Jazdzewski

Again, a reminder about the Year of Mercy from Pope Francis himself, taken from the Bull of indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, April 11, 2015:

I have proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as a special time for the Church, a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective.... How much I desire that the year [8 December 2015 – 20 November 2016] to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, and bring the goodness and tenderness of God! May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst!

The time has come for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more. It is time to return to the basics and to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters. Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope.

During the next months, you will hear, on and off, about activities regarding the Year of Mercy on the international, national, state, diocesan and local level. Among the assortment of activities is a commitment from the priests of the Arcadia Deanery to offer a regular weekly Holy Hour with the option of the Sacrament of Penance in the deanery church set aside as a pilgrimage church. Practically, that means that each Friday, from 7:00-8:00pm, one of our deanery priests will be at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pine Creek. He will expose the Blessed Sacrament for a period of Eucharistic adoration; meanwhile he will also spend some time in the confessional offering the Sacrament of Penance for those who desire to receive the direct mercy of Jesus. Then, around 8:00pm, the priest will lead the prayers for Solemn Benediction.

To further encourage you, the faithful, to avail yourselves to these graces, the members of the parish church at which the priest is assigned, will be given special encouragement to attend the Holy Hour where their Pastor presides. As a note, I’ve been assigned to the second Friday of each month. Additionally, there is a thought that particular groups of people such as: catechists, Catholic educators, parish Finance and Council members, PCCW, KC members and the like would further unite and make intentional effort to attend one or more of these Holy Hours. In the end, everyone is invited to this local weekly event; everyone is invited to come to the banquet of Christ’s mercy during the upcoming year and always!

Fr. Brian

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