Pope Francis has declared a Year of Mercy, which began on Dec. 8 and will end on Nov. 20. At Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano, the parish began the year with a 24-hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament beginning at 7 p.m. Monday.
“He wants the Holy Year to be for all believers a true moment of encounter with the mercy of God,” Sacred Heart Pastor Luke Ferris said.
Holy years are usually celebrated every 25 to 50 years. The last one was in 2000 under St. John Paul II.
Pope Francis began the Year of Mercy to show a more welcoming and merciful side of the Catholic Church — not condemn or judge but to forgive and love, according to the Vatican.
At Sacred Heart, Dottie Borowski, pastoral council communication committee chair, came up with the 24-hour adoration. Members of the parish signed up for specific times to be sure two people were there at all times, with other members praying as their time permitted.
“It went very well,” Borowski said. “People took the hours I was most worried about.”
Parish goals given by Ferris are to have monthly holy hours and daily family prayer, to discuss and understand what it means to live the Mass, and to promote young adult ministry and classes for anyone wishing to enter the church.
“These goals profess our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and the mercy of God,” Ferris said.
At St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope opened the Holy Door to symbolize the invitation for people to enter the path to salvation to new and eternal life with Jesus. Mercy is the bridge that connects God and man, he said.
“If I see myself through God’s eyes — a sinner who is forgiven yet loved eternally — it will enable me to have mercy on others,” Borowski said.
Spiritual acts of mercy are counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, letting go of grudges and sharing your faith. They also include corporal works of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and visiting the sick and prisoners.
Francis himself will set aside one Friday a month to leave the Vatican and perform an act of mercy, he said.
Beginning Sunday, doors will be opening at cathedrals around the world for people to pray.
Ferris and the parish this year will also be planning ways to celebrate Sacred Heart’s 150th anniversary in 2017.
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