The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy will conclude on Sunday, November 20, 9:30 am one the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, when Bishop Frank J. Caggiano celebrates Mass and presides over with the solemn closing of the Holy Door at St. Augustine Cathedral. All are welcome to attend.
The Closing of the Holy Door will conclude the diocesan observance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, who will also close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. During the Mass the Bishop will offers thanksgiving to God for the graces of the past year and pray that they will continue in the life of the diocese.
Father Joseph Marcello, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull and coordinator of the diocesan observance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, said that the Year of Mercy has had a lasting impact on the life of the Diocese of Bridgeport, particularly in the formation of “Center of Mercy,” which offers the sacrament of Confession on a regular basis. “The most important aspect of these Centers of Mercy is, I think, that with them, no Catholic in our diocese has to go more than two or three days without regularly scheduled confessions at a parish near them,” he said
Although the Year of Mercy concludes this month, Fr. Marcello said he expects that several Centers of Mercy will continue as a permanent addition to the pastoral life of the diocese. One of the most enduring images from this Year of Mercy is the now-famous photo of Pope Francis going to confession. “The Holy Father has given us his personal example of actively seeking out God’s mercy, just as he has given us this Year of Mercy, so that all of us can do the same,” he said. “Let’s all pray that this grace of mercy will be experienced by many, even beyond this special Year of Mercy—and most especially by anyone who hasn’t experienced it in a long while.”
