(CNS photo/Tiziana Fabi, pool via Reuters)

As Pope Francis closes the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica to mark the closing of the jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican Nov. 20, so too does the Rockford Diocese end this Extraordinary Jubilee. Keep the spirit of God's mercy alive in your hears and in your performance of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

Oct. 21: Year of Mercy talk in Huntley

Father John McNamara will present a talk on the Year of Mercy and forgiveness, Oct. 21 from 6:30 to 8 p.m at St. Mary Parish in Huntley. He will reflect upon receiving the gift of God's mercy and showing God's mercy to others. All are welcome to attend.

Date: October 21, 2016
Start Time: 06:30 pm
End Time: 08:00 pm
Location: St Mary, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley
Info:www.stmaryhuntley.org

Oct. 15: Hispanic Day of Mercy in Elgin/15 de octubre: Jubileo de la Misericordia

ELGIN—On Oct. 15, Elgin Community College will be the site of the Rockford Diocese’s Hispanic Day of Mercy.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in ECC’s Spartan gym, 1700 Spartan Dr., there will be a Mass with Bishop David Malloy, reflections on God’s mercy, and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, confessions, music and more.
And, despite the Spanish-language emphasis, anyone in the diocese is welcome to attend this ceremony marking  the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
The prayers offered for the living and the dead will be a Spritual Work of Mercy during the celebration.
Three collections that day will give those who attend a chance to perform Corporal Works of Mercy.
A winter clothing drive will gather coats, scarves, sweaters and socks for Catholic Charities to distribute to the needy in the Rockford Diocese.
Non-perishable foods brought to the ECC gym will be given to parish St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantries, also for local distribution.
A third collection will have an international goal.  Donated sample size personal items (deodorant, toothpaste, soap) and over-the-counter medicines (aspirin, cold and flu remedies, antiseptics, bandages, and oral rehydration salts) will be packaged and sent to the needy in Venezuela.
Info: Margarita Mendoza, mmendoza@rockforddiocese.org, 815/399-4300, ext. 394.

Oct. 15-16: Clothing drive in Freeport

On Oct 15 and 16, St. Joseph and St. Mary parishes in Freeport will be putting into practice the Corporal Work of Mercy, Cloth the Naked. Parishioners will be bringing in socks and underwear for school children at all weekend Masses. The items will be given to school nurses to pass out as they are needed. 72% of the children in the Freeport School District are below poverty level. The "Sock it to Me" committee has challenged each parish to bring the same number of items as it has parish families. If the target it meet, Father Timothy Barr, pastor of both parishes and a huge Chicago Bears fan, has agreed to wear Green Bear Packers socks!

Location: St. Joseph, 229 W. Washington Place; St. Mary, 704 S. State Ave.
Mass times --
St. Joseph: Saturday, 8 a.m., 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
St. Mary: Saturday, 4 p.m. (English); Sunday 8 a.m. (English), 12 noon (Spanish)
Info: Patty Gastel at (815) 821-2911, stjosephfreeport@comcast.net

Oct. 12: Holy Hour in Oregon

Please join us for a Holy Hour for "Hope and Healing" for all those who are affected by abortion. In this year of mercy let us together pray that all mind find hope, healing and peace in the merciful love of God. We will meet at St. Mary Church in Oregon, a Holy Door parish. Prayer resources will be provided.

Date: Wednesday October, 12, 2016
Start Time: 06:00 pm
End Time: 07:00 pm
Location: 310 N. 4th Street Oregon, IL. 61061
Info: Kathy Berkes at (815) 399-4300, kberkes@rockforddiocese.org

Sept. 14: Holy Hour in Woodstock

Please join us for a Holy Hour of Adoration for "Hope and Healing" for all those affected by abortion. In this year of mercy, let us join together in prayer that all may find hope, healing and peace in the merciful love of God. We will meet in the church and prayer resources will be provided.

Date: Wednesday Sept. 14, 2016
Start Time: 8 pm
End Time: 9 pm
Location: St Mary Parish 312 Lincoln Ave. Woodstock IL 60098

Info: Kathy Berkes at (815) 399-4300

Email: kberkes@rockforddiocese.org

Aug. 22: Holy Door Trip from Rockford

St. Bernadette Parish in Rockford is hosting a one-day trip to all eight Holy Doors in the Rockford Diocese on Aug. 22. Departure from and return to the parish. Reservations required.

Date: Monday, Aug. 22, 2016
Start Time: 06:30 am
End Time: 08:30 pm
Location: St. Bernadette Parish, 2400 Bell Ave., Rockford, IL 61103
Cost: $70 per person for bus transportation and 2 box lunches 

Info:Mary Trapani, 815/968-0904

Email:  mtstbern@yahoo.com

July 26: Holy Door trip from Rockford

St. Rita Parish will host a trip to four Rockford Diocese Holy Doors on July 26. Departing from and returning to St. Rita Parish upper parking lot in Rockford. There will be stops at the Poor Clares Corpus Christi Monastery in Rockford, St. John the Baptist in Johnsburg, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Aurora and St. Thomas More in Elgin. Lunch and short shopping break will be in Long Grove.

Date: Tuesday July 26, 2016
Start Time: 07:30 a.m.
End Time: 06:30 pm
Location: St. Rita Parish, 6254 Valley Knoll Dr., Rockford, IL 61109
Cost: $25 per person, includes beverages and snacks

Info: parish office, 815/398-0853

June 25: Holy Door Pilgrimage from Sublette

Obtain a plenary indulgence for a deceased loved one by walking through the holy door at St. Mary Parish in Sterling. The pilgrimage will begin with confessions at 9:15 a.m. and Mass at 10 a.m. followed by the trip to Sterling.

Date: June 25th
Start Time: 09:15 am
End Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 201 Locust Street, Sublette
Info
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Call: Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish office at (815) 849-5412