Dec. 13: Jubilee Year begins with opening of Holy Doors at Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford

(Observer photo by Penny Wiegert)

Bishop David Malloy will open the holy doors at the Cathedral of St. Peter at 10:45 a.m. before the 11 a.m. Mass, Dec. 13.The cathedral is at 1243 N. Church St. in Rockford. There will also be other holy doors in the Rockford Diocese.
The Jubilee of Mercy was announced by Pope Francis as a year to be lived intensely in each particular Church, allowing every person to encounter the mercy of God the Father through diligent labor for the Church's mission there.
One sign of this pastoral care is the chance to open a Door of Mercy in every diocese. These doors, analogous to the Holy Doors of the Papal Basilicas in Rome, will permit even people who cannot travel to Rome to make a Jubilee pilgrimage.
Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Dec. 6.
It will be the responsibility of the local bishop to decide in which church of the diocese the Door of Mercy will be opened.
See the Diocesan Pilgrimages page for more information.

Dec. 13: Eight other Holy Doors opening

(Observer photo by Penny Wiegert)

Pope Francis began the worldwide Jubilee Year of Mercy when he opened the Holy Door in Rome Dec. 8.
Bishop David Malloy will join bishops throughout the world on Dec. 13 when he opens the Holy Door at the Cathedral of St. Peter at 10:45 a.m. 
Other holy doors to be  opened Dec. 13 in the Rockford Diocese and their opening times are:

• Our Lady of Good Counsel, Aurora, 10 a.m.
• St. Mary, DeKalb, 8:30 a.m.
• St. Thomas More, Elgin, 10 a.m.
• St. Michael, Galena, 8:30 a.m.
• St. John the Baptist, Johns-burg, 9 a.m.
• Corpus Christi Monastery, Rockford, 7 a.m.
• St. Mary, Sterling, 8:30 a.m. 

Click to go to the Diocesan Pilgrimages page to learn more about each of the churches that have been designated diocesan holy doors.

Photo: Jubilee Year of Mercy banners are being distributed in English and Spanish to churches and high schools in the Rockford Diocese. The year begins Dec. 8.