Jacksonville, Fla. – As part of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy that began on Dec. 8, 2015, Pope Francis has designated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart as a special day to honor priests. The Holy Father has invited every diocese throughout the world that day to celebrate a “Jubilee of Priests.”

Bishop Felipe Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine will gather with the priests of the Diocese of St. Augustine on Friday, June 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 5752 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville, for a Mass that begins at 5 p.m. The homilist for the Mass will be Father Michael Pendergraft, vicar for priests for the diocese and pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fleming Island.

It has become a tradition in the Catholic Church for priests to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In Catholic sacramental theology, a priest is ordained to act in persona Christi (“in the person of Christ”). The Heart of Jesus, full of love for all people, becomes the model for priests as they minister to the people of God.

At this Jubilee Mass, the priests will recite a prayer by which they consecrate themselves and their ministry to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The faithful are cordially invited to this celebration.

What’s an (extraordinary) Jubilee Year?

Also called Holy Years, jubilees normally occur every 25 years. They feature special celebrations and pilgrimages, calls for conversion and repentance, and the offer of special opportunities to experience God’s grace through the sacraments, especially confession.

Extraordinary holy years, such as the Holy Year of Mercy, are less frequent but offer the same opportunities. The last extraordinary jubilee was called by St. John Paul II in 1983 to mark the 1,950 years after the death of Jesus. John Paul also led the last holy year, known as the “Great Jubilee,” in 2000.

The Year of Mercy called for by Pope Francis is the third “extraordinary” jubilee since the tradition began 700 years ago.

Fast Facts on the Diocese of St. Augustine

Priests serving in the diocese: 164
Deacons serving in the diocese: 78
Sisters serving in the diocese: 108
Total parishes: 52
Total mission churches: 10
Seminarians: 27
Total registered Catholics: 157,000
Diocese was established: March 11, 1870
First Parish established: Sept. 8, 1565