In a letter addressed to the faithful, Archbishop Christian Lépine invites us to the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy, Saturday, November 12, at 7:30 pm.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The Year of Mercy, inaugurated by Pope Francis on December 8, 2015, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, will end on Sunday, November 20, 2016, on the Feast of Christ the King.

The Archdiocese of Montreal, as did all dioceses, responded to the Pope's call and opened a Door of Mercy at the Cathedral. Some shrines and churches also opened a Door of Mercy; many parishes and communities undertook projects to bear witness to Mercy, at the same time, initiatives that augmented the corporal and spiritual works of mercy multiplied throughout the archdiocese.

On Saturday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m., the closing of the Jubilee Year and of the Door of Mercy in Montreal will take place at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral.

This celebration will be a time to give thanks to God for the gift of his Mercy and to ask him to make us instruments of his Mercy.

This will also be the opportunity to present the Monseigneur-Ignace-Bourget Diocesan Award of Merit to individuals and organizations who, for many years, have dedicated themselves to works of mercy. There are numerous such works undertaken throughout the archdiocese, and we cannot honour them all. However, we will highlight a few that might, in some way, speak to us, such as those that involve visiting people in prison and those that make the Sacrament of Reconciliation easily available.

With Jesus Christ, it is always a time of divine mercy, offered to each and every one of us and to all of humanity. May we have the humble courage to bring our sinfulness and poverty to the Lord so as to discover more and more the freedom that comes from being children of God. May we become a Church that is rich in mercy and have the generosity to bring it to the world.

Let us be touched by divine Mercy and pray for one another.

May God bless you and fill you with his peace.
 

+Christian Lépine
Archbishop of Montreal