November 10, 2016

Closing of Year of Mercy to be marked with Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Sharon Roulier

SPRINGFIELD — After nearly one year dedicated to celebrating God’s mercy, the Jubilee of Year of Mercy will officially come to a close on Nov. 20.

Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will celebrate the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield, highlighting the end of the year declared by Pope Francis as a time to reflect on the importance of mercy to the Christian faith, and how living a life of mercy is essential to living that faith.

“This year served to remind all people of every place and time that God is more merciful than anyone of us can imagine,” said Msgr. Christopher Connelly, rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral.

At the beginning of the year dedicated to mercy, on Dec. 8, 2015, the pope invited people to strike out on a yearlong spiritual journey to recognize the love of God that is knocking on their door.

 St. Michael’s Cathedral is one of nine churches the bishop designated as pilgrimage sites in the Springfield Diocese during the worldwide Year of Mercy. Each of the nine sites had a “Door of Mercy” through which pilgrims could pass, in effect “opening” the doors of their hearts to Jesus.

During a May 7 homily at St. Theresa Church in South Hadley, the bishop said that the holy doors blessed to “remind us that we are on that journey to God’s kingdom, that we need his grace each day in order to be able to live his words and to be his witnesses in this world.”

“And so, as we pass through these holy doors, we are indeed reminded that the gateway to life is Jesus Christ, who is our shepherd,” said Bishop Rozanski.

Msgr. Connelly said the “Door of Mercy” in the Cathedral is the confessional door, highlighted by two special signs printed in both English and Spanish.

He said the Mass, closing the Year of Mercy, serves as the culmination of a year that he hopes will continue.

“During this year, we are mindful that the mercy of God endures forever,” said Msgr. Connelly. “And so, too, should we be merciful.”