Misericordes Sicut Pater!
In union with the universal church in the declaration of extraordinary year of mercy with the document Misericordiae Vultus, the Catholic Bishop of Warri, Most Rev. John OkeOghene Afareha and Christ’s faithful of the diocese gathered at the sacred Heart Cathedral on the 30th of January 2016 for the Opening of the Holy door of mercy. The ceremony began at 12 noon at the Cathedral compound with the proclamation of the gospel of Mercy Lk 15:1-7 and a reading from the bull of indiction of the extraordinary Jubilee of mercy.
After the reading of the bull, everyone lead by the bishop and a priest the with the book of the gospel processed to the door of mercy at the entrance of the Cathedral. After the blessing and opening of the door, the faithful went into the Cathedral through the door of mercy for the Holy Mass.
In his homily, the bishop reminded the faithful of the importance of God’s mercy in our lives. “our salvation depends on the mercy of God”, for if the Lord should mark our guilt, who would survive? the bishop exhorts the faithful that being in sin is living in a distant country like the prodigal son, but this is a time to return to the love and mercy of our Father. God’s mercy is not opposed to justice but complements it. To obtain mercy is not simply to pass through the door but to pass from sinfulness to forgiveness.
The Bishop further asserts that the incarnation is the culmination of God’s mercy for Jesus is the face of God’s mercy. A plenary indulgence is granted to anyone who in celebrating the year of mercy makes a pilgrimage to the Holy door of mercy after receiving the sacrament of penance, receives holy communion, prays for the intention of the Holy Father and detaches himself from every sin.
At the end of the celebration, the bishop thanked the faithful for their active participation and urged them to make a pilgrimage to the holy door. The Bishop also granted that door of mercy will be opened at the different pastoral regions. The celebration ended with a hymn to the blessed mother, the mother of the God who shows us mercy.