The Church is celebrating an extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy—a tenet of our faith that Pope Francis sees as one of the cornerstones of the Church.
Rooted in the Old Testament
The official Year of Mercy is December 8, 2015— the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to November 20, 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. Jubilee years were part of the Old Testament law. The Catholic Church took up this tradition in the year 1300, and by 1450 ordinary jubilee years were set for every 25 years. There is also a Catholic tradition of proclaiming an “extraordinary jubilee”. Pope Francis’ invitation is an extraordinary jubilee year because we are not due to have another until 2025, falling out of the every 25-years pattern.
Celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy
The Pope asks us, as a faith community to focus on God’s unconditional love, inviting each of us to celebrate the Jubilee by praying, making 
pilgrimages to the Holy Doors in our diocese and serving the poor so that we can be conduits of God’s mercy in everything we do and say.
The opening of the Holy Door in Rome
On December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the close of the second Vatican Council, Pope Francis will open a Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica that remains sealed except for jubilee hers. When he crosses the threshold, this door will become a “Door of Mercy”. In the weeks that follow, Holy Doors will be opened by cardinals and bishops in basilicas, cathedrals and shrines all over the world including St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Washington. Pope Francis encourages everyone to make a pilgrimage to a Holy Door in Rome or in your own diocese, where one can receive special graces during the jubilee year.
The doors are open at St. Patrick
At Saint Patrick Catholic Church it is our mission to be a witness to mercy to all people. In the words of the Pope, “No one can be excluded from God’s mercy.”
If you have been away from the Church or the parish for any reason, we want to make this year a time of return. St. Patrick symbolically opens the doors. If you have friends or family who have drifted away from their faith or know of someone seeking a faith community, invite them home to the heart of God’s mercy at Saint Patrick Catholic Church, to experience first hand our community of faith, hope and love.
Come home. Come to Mass!
Let’s pray together at Saturday Vigil at 5:30 pm, Sunday at 8:30 am and 10:30 am every weekend. Let’s gather and rejoice for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Mass. Mass times and Holy Day Mass times are found on the
website, on myParish app.
If you would like a member of our parish staff to contact you with additional information about Saint Patrick Catholic Church, email [email protected] or download, print and complete the postcard and give it to an usher or place it in the collection basket during Mass.
All parishioners and St. Patrick Catholic School families received a postcard in the mail. We invite you to share the postcard with a friend or family member— invite them to Mass with you and your family. What better time to come home then during the hopeful season of Advent and joyous time of Christmas.
