The
Holy Father has asked that special indulgences be available for the Faithful
throughout the Year of Mercy (December 8, 2015 — November 20, 2016).
For those able to make a pilgrimage to one
of the Jubilee churches in Rome, that is certainly an option. Otherwise,
Cardinal Collins has designated seven churches within the Archdiocese of
Toronto as Jubilee Churches, each with a Holy Door of Mercy. Going through one
of these Holy Doors is a spiritual journey that shows, as the Holy Father said,
"the deep desire for true conversion."
In addition to passing through a Holy
Door, each pilgrim is to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, receive the
Holy Eucharist while reflecting on God's great gift of mercy, make a profession
of faith (recite either the Apostles' or the Nicene Creed), and pray for the
Holy Father and for his intentions (an Our Father and a Hail Mary are
recommended).
For those who are elderly, confined and
the ill, Pope Francis said that they may obtain the indulgence by "living
with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial" and by receiving the
Eucharist or by attending Mass and community prayer, "even through the
various means of communication" (for instance, a Mass offered on
television). For those in prison, they may obtain the indulgence in their
prison chapels.
Indulgences may be obtained for the dead
by the carrying out of these same acts by the Faithful with the intention of
offering the indulgence for someone who is deceased.
And finally, for all Catholics, this
jubilee indulgence may also be obtained when a member of the Faithful
personally performs a spiritual or corporal work of mercy.
Designated
churches for the Jubilee with a Holy Door of Mercy:
St. Paul's Basilica Power Street, Toronto
St. Patrick's Parish 131 McCaul Street,
Toronto
Merciful Redeemer Parish 2775 Erin Centre
Blvd., Mississauga
St. Anthony of Padua Parish 940 North Park
Drive, Bramalea
St. Patrick's Parish 11873 The Gore Road,
Brampton
St. Theresa's Parish 2559 Kingston Road,
Scarborough
The Martyrs' Shrine 16163 Highway 12 West,
Midland