Holy year, Door of Mercy to close this month

Published: November 14, 2016

Dwain Hebda / Arkansas Catholic file

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor opens the diocese’s Door of Mercy with a blessing at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock Dec. 13, 2016 as server Tessa Castle assists. The door will be officially closed Nov. 13 during the 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Masses. The Jubilee Year of Mercy ends Nov. 20.

Dwain Hebda / Arkansas Catholic file

The Jubilee Year of Mercy will close worldwide Sunday, Nov. 20 on the solemnity of Christ the King. Pope Francis will close the year and close the holy doors at St. Peter Basilica Nov. 20.

Several Arkansas churches will also host closing events to mark the work done over the past 12 months to learn about mercy and practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the 12:05 p.m. Mass Nov. 20 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. The diocese’s Door of Mercy will be closed Sunday, Nov. 13 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock during the 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Masses.

Other parishes include:

• Fayetteville: A program for women called “The Divine Mercy Devotion and its Origins with St. Faustina” will be held from 8-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 12 at St. Joseph Church. Pastor Father Jason Tyler, who recently visited Poland, will be the featured speaker.

• Fort Smith: The children’s choir at St. Boniface Church will lead the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 10 a.m. Nov. 20.

• Hope: Our Lady of Good Hope Church is praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily through Nov. 20 at 3 p.m., alternating English and Spanish. The Novena to Divine Mercy will be prayed Nov. 12-20 and the chaplet will be prayed Nov. 20 in English at 3 p.m. and in Spanish at 3:30 p.m.

• North Little Rock: St. Augustine Church will host Shepherd’s Soup Nov. 20 after the 11:30 a.m., Mass for parishioners and the community. “God Is Blessing Us” is the parish’s 86th anniversary theme for the Year of Mercy. The parish will bless and hang a plaque in honor of those in the parish who have shown mercy.