The Year of Mercy commenced on 8 December, 2015, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will close on 20 November 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King. During this special year, the Holy Father opened the “Holy Doors” and dispensed indulgences intended to bring all of us closer to Jesus Christ.

In this special year we are invited to reflect together as a Church the meaning of this Holy Year, the reason for a Jubilee of Mercy and what is its significance for us. The Holy Father wants us to reflect on three aspects: Mercy, Reconciliation and Peace. These three aspects are reflected in the words of Jesus:  “Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful,” (Lk 6: 36).

Mercy signifies that God draws our misery into His own infinitely loving heart.

In Latin, mercy is “misericordia.” This is two words combined, the Latin “miseriae” meaning misery and the Latin “cor” or “cordis” meaning heart.

This Year of Mercy is an opportunity for us to take a few steps to purify our hearts and to strengthen our faith; firstly by acts of faith followed by prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Let us never forget the endless mercy of God no matter how strong our trials become. We should choose His mercy and be attentive to the gift of God’s infinite mercy.

Our Parish’s Second Mission: “BEC, Witnessing Jesus Through Works of Mercy.” It is a favorable time for all our BEC members to turn our eyes to God, our merciful Father and to our brothers and sisters in need of mercy. It is time to become a more participative community and to be effective witnesses of the gospel of Mercy. During this   special year I invite ALL of you my dear parishioners to put yourselves once again in the right perspective of your personal life and of your communities on what is specific to the Christian faith.

I would like to propose a simple exercise for you during this special year. Keep a daily journal in which you write down a work of mercy, which you have done.  Write it in one or two words or a sentence or two every day and take the time to evaluate the contents of your   journal before coming to fulfill your Sunday obligation. During Mass thank our Merciful Father and pray for courage as you look forward to another week ahead on how to carry out the works of Mercy. As you keep this journal I believe at the end of the Year of Mercy and at the end of our Parish Mission you will experience the sweet and gentle touch of God’s forgiveness, His presence in your BEC and His closeness in moments of greatest need.  We shall discuss further on these details in the BECCOT meetings.

As we journey with our parish mission, let us choose “what pleases God most,” namely, His mercy, His love, His tenderness and His embrace!