Pope Francis officially proclaimed a Jubilee Year of Mercy beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. "This is a time for the Church to rediscover the meaning of the mission entrusted to her by the Lord on Easter Day, namely, to be a sign and an instrument of the Father's mercy.
This year we are to be transformed by His mercy, so that we may become witnesses of mercy," the Pope said.
The Holy Year's motto is, "Be merciful like your Father" which the Pope said involves opening our hearts and witnessing mercy everywhere, for "Pardon is a force that can give rise to new life and infuse our courage to look with hope to the future."
With the leadership of our Parish Council, we are developing our next five-year visioning plan. Following the example of our Holy Father, may we proclaim a jubilee of mercy in our parish life in which we witness to the extravagance of God's mercy in all the dimensions of our parish life. May we be defined as a Church of Mercy just as the Father is merciful to each and every one of us.
In today's Gospel, Jesus shows us His wounds. They are wounds of mercy. Jesus invites us to behold these wounds, to touch them as Thomas did, to heal our lack of belief. Above all, Jesus invites us to enter into the mystery of these wounds, which is the mystery of His merciful love.
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