Gainesville, Fla. – In the Bull of Indiction for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis described mercy as “the beating heart of the Gospel.” This has been manifested throughout the history of the Catholic Church, most especially in the practice of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Bishop Felipe Estévez of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine will celebrate a Jubilee Mass for those who show mercy on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Holy Faith Catholic Church, 747 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Many of the faithful of our parishes who minister to the sick in hospitals, nursing homes and homebound, those who work through agencies such as Catholic Charities and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, as well as those who advance the message of social justice are encouraged to take part in this special Mass. Father Joseph McDonnell, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Chiefland will be the homilist. All in the community are welcome!
What’s an (extraordinary) Jubilee Year?
Also called Holy Years, jubilees normally occur every 25 years. They feature special celebrations and pilgrimages, call for conversion and repentance, and they 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.