In April, Pope Francis declared that a Jubilee Year of Mercy
be observed from the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception,
Dec. 8, to the solemnity of Christ the King, Nov. 20, 2016.
The pope opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
Dec. 8, and Dec. 13 he opened the Holy Door of his cathedral
in Rome, St. John Lateran Basilica.
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde joined with the pope and his
brother bishops around the world Dec. 13 by opening the Holy
Door at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
The ceremony, before the 11 a.m. Mass, began in the gym of
the St. Thomas More Cathedral School, where parishioners
joined the bishop and concelebrants Fathers Robert J. Rippy,
rector, and John Cregan, retired pastor of Blessed Sacrament
Church in Alexandria all dressed in rose vestments for
Gaudete Sunday. The St. Thomas More Choir, directed by Rick
Gibala, sang hymns, and the Knights of Columbus honor guard
prepared led the procession to the cathedral.
The bishop lit incense in a censer and said, “The mercy of
the Father, the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”
The faithful answered, “And with your spirit.”
The bishop read Pope Francis’ “Bull Indiction of the
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy” declaring the Year of Mercy,
after which he processed from the school to the front door of
the cathedral.
At the door, the bishop said, “Open the gates of justice, we
shall enter and give thanks to the Lord.”
As the doors were opened, the the bishop said, “This is the
Lord’s gate: Let us enter through it and obtain mercy and
forgiveness.”
The choir chanted, “I am the gate, says the Lord; whoever
enters through me will be saved; he will enter and go out and
find pasture.”
The bishop and the congregation entered through the door to
the sanctuary.
Before the opening prayer, the bishop walked through the
sanctuary and sprinkled holy water to bless the congregation
as part of the Year of Mercy celebration.
Bishop Loverde’s homily was on the theme of rejoicing. He
said that was fitting for the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete
(Rejoice) Sunday.
The bishop said that the season of Advent reminds us that we
rejoice because Our Savior is coming. And there’s another
reason to rejoice this day – the opening of the Door of
Mercy.
“This door is a sign and symbol of Christ Jesus and of the
Father’s mercy,” he said.
The day marked another occasion deserving joy and celebration
– the re-opening of the cathedral following months of
renovation.
“This renovation makes more evident that this is the dwelling
place of God, the place where mercy incarnate abides in the
tabernacle, the place where the greatest act of mercy is
repeated over and over: the renewal of Christ’s sacrifice on
the cross and of His resurrection in each Mass, the place
where divine mercy is experienced in the sacrament of
penance,” said the bishop.
After Mass, people lingered, to examine the renovated
cathedral that included new Stations of the Cross and
refinished pews. The terrazzo floor was polished, and
paneling on the walls was replaced with granite. The upper
walls were refinished and painted.
A new console for the cathedral pipe organ was built to
replace the heavily used 44-year-old console.
The bishop’s thoughts on the renovation were echoed by
parishioners Michael and Cynthia Mooney.
“I don’t think it could have been done any better,” said
Michael. “It looks like a cathedral now.”
Cynthia, who is in the construction business, said the
renovations were well done.
“The color palettes chosen were excellent,” she said.
Michael also commented on the Year of Mercy, saying that it
brings new focus on mercy in our daily lives.
