To the Editor:
The city of Bayonne will have a local parish church designated as a special pilgrimage site for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis.
An Extraordinary Jubilee Year is a time set by Pope Francis, for all Catholics to celebrate our relationship with the Lord and has declared this time to be the year of Mercy.
The Jubilee Year of Mercy begins when Pope Francis ceremoniously opens the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, in Rome, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Tuesday, December 8. The closing ceremonies are on Sunday, November 20, 2016.
His Holiness has asked that Diocesan Bishops throughout the world designate cathedrals and certain local parish churches as special pilgrimage sites so that the faithful can take part in the celebration and receive special graces and blessings during the Jubilee Year. In local churches the opening ceremonies are to be held on December 13, 2015, and the closing celebration will be on Sunday, November 12, 2016.
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 15 East 26th Street, is designated as a Jubilee Year of Mercy pilgrimage site. This honor and blessing for our parish will take place on December 13, 2015 at 3 p.m.
The faithful of our parish, as well as from many other parishes, will assemble in our Parish Center Hall. His Grace, Bishop Kurt Burnette, Eparchy of Passaic, will lead the Catholic faithful in a procession from the hall to the main doors of our church.
At the main entrance of the church he will bless the designated Door of Mercy, read our Holy Father’s Prayer for the Beginning of the Holy Year, and lead all in attendance into the church for a Short Prayer Service (Moleben).
The Moleben will include prayers for God’s mercy and was composed in honor of Blessed Miriam Teresa, who was baptized, confirmed and received her First Holy Communion in St. John’s parish. She was declared “Blessed” by the Holy Father one year ago and is only one miracle away from becoming a Saint.
Let us all come together as a Catholic family for our spiritual renewal; to seek the possibility of obtaining plenary indulgences; to pray the Prayer of the Holy Father for the Jubilee; and to seek special blessings during the Jubilee Year of Mercy by walking through our Door of Mercy and praying with us. All the faithful are welcome to attend!
CAROL A. CHAMBERS