Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy

Each Thursday, there is exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Nebbi.  Yesterday (13 October 2016), this time of prayer and reflection was given greater importance as it marked the start of the Diocese's celebrations for the close of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy (http://www.im.va/content/gdm/en.html) on Sunday 20 November 2016.

Throughout the Cathedral was filled with people of all ages from tiny babies to elderly men and women giving praise to God, through His Son, truly present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.  It was a very powerful and sobering witness for me such deep and loving devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.  I have learnt so much about my faith life and my witness to being a Catholic whilst in Nebbi.  The priests from the Cathedral Parish were in attendance throughout the day to hear confessions.

At home there is a great focus and emphasis on the "New Evangelisation" and much is being written and said about how to take this movement forward.  However, I will leave Nebbi with an understanding of what must be at the heart of this "New Evangelisation" and that is a return to basics - a return to prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament, a renewed love for the Mass (perhaps not wearing a watch to Mass and so removing the temptation to "measure" a good Mass by time spent in church and return to a focus on grace received), and relearning the simple prayers of our childhood such as the Act of Faith, Act of Charity (Love) and Act of Hope.

The prayer Pope Francis had asked be said daily during this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy is recited after every Mass here in Nebbi and it is a beautiful reflection on the depth of God's mercy for each one of us:

Lord Jesus Christ,
you have taught us to be merciful like the
heavenly Father,
and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.
Show us your face and we will be saved.
Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew
from being enslaved by money;
the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness
only in created things;
made Peter weep after his betrayal,
and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.
Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us,
the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:
"If you knew the gift of God!"

You are the visible face of the invisible Father,
of the God who manifests his power above all by
forgiveness and mercy:
let the Church be your visible face in the world, its
Lord risen and glorified.
You willed that your ministers would also be
clothed in weakness
in order that they may feel compassion for those
in ignorance and error:
let everyone who approaches them feel sought
after, loved, and forgiven by God.
Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us
with its anointing,
so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace
from the Lord,
and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may
bring good news to the poor,
proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed,
and restore sight to the blind.
We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession
of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.