Standing At The Threshold Of A Memorable Year
As we conclude the first week of the new liturgical year, it already has become clear that the coming 12 months will be memorable for a number of reasons. Let’s look at a few of them.
In just a few days, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis will begin the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy by opening the Door of Mercy at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. A few days later, cathedrals around the world will open Doors of Mercy for the Jubilee, including our own St, Benedict Cathedral in Evansville and the Minor Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes.
The Jubilee will conclude on the Solemnity of Christ the King in November 2016. In the interim, a number of events will take place in our diocese and across the world to celebrate the Jubilee. Look for details in The Message. On the front page of this issue, you can see the Jubilee logo created for our diocese by Design Editor Sheila Barclay. Notice that we have added it to the banner at the top of the front page, where it will remain for the entire Jubilee. You also will see it across the diocese.
Before the Jubilee opens, however, we will welcome Diocese of Evansville seminarian Ambrose Wanyonyi to the transitional deaconate. Bishop Charles C. Thompson will ordain him to the deaconate on Dec. 5 at Annunciation Parish’s Christ the King Church. He will become our second transitional deacon, joining Tyler Tenbarge.
That focuses our gaze on the second reason this will be a memorable year for our 12-county Catholic community. By the time the Jubilee of Mercy concludes, we will have two new priests among us – Father Tenbarge and Father Wanyonyi. God willing, their priestly ordinations will occur in June 2016.
Please continue to pray for them, for all our seminarians and for those who are discerning a call from God to dedicate their lives to His service through religious life. Praying for vocations is a great way to celebrate God’s Mercy, in my opinion. Thank Him in prayer for the priests, deacons and religious who serve you and every Catholic in our parishes – and ask Him to wrap His merciful arms around those who are discerning a religious vocation.
The final reason is personal, but it relates directly to how bright God’s love and mercy shine across our 12 counties – in and through our Catholic schools.
Recently, former Catholic-school classmates back home in Pennsylvania have reached out to let me and others know about an “all classes reunion” for our high school. I graduated in 1974; our class held its 40th anniversary reunion last year. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of our school closing its doors – the Class of ’76 was its last.
Here, we see more than two dozen lively, vibrant Catholic schools – including four high schools. It is important for all of us to remember that not every diocese across the country can make the same claim.
Another way to celebrate the Jubilee is to thank God for the love and mercy the we see reflected in our schools – the students, faculties, staffs and families that make them shine through service founded in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Take a few minutes in silence to think about the things in your own life that will make this Jubilee of Mercy so memorable … pray about them. And conclude your prayers with a simple intercession from St Faustina: “…have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
