Dear Parishioners,

Next week will be the conclusion of the Year of Mercy. The Pope wishes for mercy to not only live in the hearts of all the faithful, but to be alive in their actions daily. This year marked a special time in the Church to experience and proclaim mercy to the world. The Pope began this Holy Year on December 8th, 2015 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. At the conclusion of that Council, Pope John XXIII stated, “Now the Bride of Christ wishes to use the medicine of mercy rather than taking up arms of severity.” (Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, 2)

At the beginning of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis echoed this call declaring, “Here, then, is the reason for the Jubilee: because this is the time for mercy. It is the favorable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who are waiting to see and to touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone, everyone, the way of forgiveness and reconciliation. May the Mother of God open our eyes, so that we may comprehend the task to which we have been called; and may she obtain for us the grace to experience this Jubilee of Mercy as faithful and fruitful witnesses of Christ.” (Homily April 11, 2015)

Even though the Holy Year is coming to a close and many of the special opportunities to experience God’s mercy are coming to an end, the Church always has mercy at the heart of everything she does. The greatest act of mercy is Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. He wills that we share that Mercy through the sacraments and through daily acts. Before we can give mercy, though, one needs to first experience the mercy of God in the sacrament of confession. Then, we must be willing to forgive others of their wrong doings. Though this may be challenging at times, we remember the words that Our Lord gave us on the cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Also, it is always meritorious to do corporal and spiritual works of mercy. These include, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, giving alms, burying the dead, teaching others about the faith, encouraging those who doubt the faith and praying for the dead. As Pope Francis said, “Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy. The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.” (Misericordiae Vultus 10)

God bless,

Fr. Carter