In celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
With the Eucharistic celebration at St. Peter’s Square and the solemn opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis inaugurated on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary last December 8, the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
Pope Francis opens a Holy Door at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Vatican, December 8, 2015. AFP (photo by Vincenzo Pinto)
In a letter dated Dec. 9 addressed to all clergy, religious and ministry lay workers in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (ACDO), Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ said the simultaneous opening of the jubilee doors in all cathedrals throughout the world is scheduled this coming Sunday, which is Gaudete Sunday.
Since it would be impossible for al priests in the archdiocese to congregate on a Sunday, ACDO has moved the solemn opening of the Jubilee door of the St. Augustin Metropolitan Cathedral to the following Monday –December 14, 2015.
Pope Francis opens a Holy Door at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Vatican, December 8, 2015.
To enable everyone to become more acquainted with the details of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the prelate has invited all the priests, religious and ministry lay workers to a general orientation meeting onDecember 14, 2015 (Monday), at 1:00PM to 3:00PM, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro. The usual Monday lunch for the clergy this time will be at the rectory of Carmen Parish.
Archbishop Ledesma asked all diocesan priests to their respective congregations the following schedule of this archdiocesan launching on December 14: 3:00PM – Communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Jubilee Door at St Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral (photo by Michael Sinjin Pineda)
“We’ll begin with the communal confessions at Carmen church and all priests will be available for confession at 3PM,” said Msgr. Florencio “Boy” Salvador, D.D., ACDO Director of Liturgy and concurrently pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church at Pueblo de Oro. “This will be followed a 4:00PM by the penitential procession from Carmen Church to St Augustin Cathedral to be led by the archbishop as the High Priest and Shepherd of the archdiocese to be followed at 5:00PM or the arrival at the cathedral by the solemn opening of the archdiocesan Jubilee Door and the celebration of the Eucharist.”
“The Holy Father opened the Jubilee Door at St. Peter’s yesterday (i.e., December 8) to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the conclusion Vatican II, the ecumenical Council that opened the door of the Church to the whole world,” said Archbishop Ledesma. “May this Jubilee of Mercy truly be a year of experiencing God’s lavish merciful love for us and of growing in our commitment to the ongoing renewal of the church and society.”
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