From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld News Network

Goa, Dec 6: As the universal Church will celebrate Extraordinary Jubilee Year of mercy from December 8 onwards, Goa Church has ordered its parishes to open Door of Mercy alike the one being opened by Pope in Rome.

”In his Bull of Indiction, Misericordiae Vultus (The Face of Mercy) signed on the 11th of April, 2015, the Holy Father, Francis, has declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in the Church, from the 8th of December 2015 till the 20th November, 2016. He will inaugurate it the 8th of December, 2015, when the Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by officially opening a special Door of Mercy of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome,” says the press note released by Archbishop of Goa.

Back in Goa, in each Local Church, the Diocesan Bishop will open a similar Door of Mercy in his own Cathedral Church or any other shrine frequented by the Catholics, he has said.

The press note adds: In our Archdiocese the Door of the Cathedral Church will be opened on the 13th of December, 2015, the third Sunday of Advent.

“This celebration will be attended by the representatives of the whole Archdiocese and others who desire to participate in the same. To show his solidarity with the Holy Father, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao will celebrate the Eucharist on the 8th of December, 2015 in the Cathedral Church at Old Goa at 8:00 AM,” it adds.

All those desiring to participate in the same are cordially welcomed. It is the strong desire of the Archbishop that everyone raise their hearts and minds to God to thank God for this great Year of Mercy which comes from Him as a gift and to imbibe His mercy in their personal lives and to finally give witness to it throughout the year.