'Called to the Ministry of Mercy': Prayer for Opening Local Doors of Mercy

Editor: On Sunday, 13 December, the Third Sunday of Advent and the fiftieth anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pope Francis will open the the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Rome –  the Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Misericordiae Vultus, 3, 4).  In Dublin that same Day, Foundation Day celebrations which are normally held on 12 December will be linked with the opening of the Door of 64A Lower Baggot Street – Mercy International Centre, the first House of Mercy.

Image: Invitation to Ritual.Any Mercy Congregation or Institute, community or ministry wishing to use this image, available in both English and Spanish, to promote their local ritual is most welcome to do so.

Across the Mercy world, planning is well underway to open local doors of Mercy on or around 13 December. At the request of MIA, a ritual has been prepared by Sheila Carney rsm (Americas) to use at Baggot Street and is made available here for us all to use locally. The ritual, in incorporating the two songs from the Vigil prayer that commenced the 20th Anniversary celebrations at Baggot Street last year, draws on that newfound sense of global connection as it introduces this third year in a rich three-year cycle of global Mercy reflection: 20th Anniversary (2014), Year of Consecrated Life (2015) and Year of Mercy (2016).

More will be shared over the coming weeks about the Year of Mercy. As you welcome in the Year of Mercy locally, we invite and encourage you to share your Images and Stories with the Mercy world through Mercy eNews.

Download the Ritual
Leader Copy - A4 Paper Size Leader Copy - US Letter Size Participants Copy - A4 Paper Size Participants Copy - US Letter Size

Practise your singing: words and music are online here

Messages to: 
Sheila Carney rsm (Americas) - Creator of the Ritual
Mercy International Reflection Process Guiding Team

Please email Anne Walsh for a print quality copy of the image.