In this most Merciful year—from 8 December 2015 through 22 November 2016—Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to highlight the essence of our lived-out Catholic faith, which is mercy and forgiveness combined with compassion and hope, to show the world what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. This “showing” of our Christ-like way is meant not only in a theological or abstract way, but also in a very practical way—a day-in, day-out sort of way—that will change a person’s life or daily existence in a meaningful way, so that they feel the presence and power of Christ in and through others. As the priest celebrant prays in Eucharistic Prayer II, “thank You for counting us worthy to be in Your presence and minister to You.” We minister to our Father in heaven by being present to those in need in our midst. We touch the face of the invisible God when we wipe the face, feed the stomach, comfort the sorrowful or educate the ignorant to the Truth here on earth.

In this Jubilee Year we will illustrate mercy through both the Corporal (bodily) and Spiritual (faith) Works of Mercy as noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This is best illustrated in how the world views the action of the Church. Most people, even non-believers, view the Church as one who cares for the poor, the lonely and the sick. They view our Church active in corporal works of mercy in homeless and food shelters, in building and running hospitals, in the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Malta by caring for the downtrodden and sick, in elementary and high school education, in colleges and universities, in day care for the elderly, in caring for the unborn, and more. In spiritual works of mercy, the Church is seen in counseling, in visiting the sick in hospitals, nursing homes and the homebound; in burying the dead and leading others to the Truth of Christ through Church teachings, religious education and adult faith formation and much, much more. And all these things happen not in Rome alone but right here in West Simsbury and in every parish across the Catholic world.

Here at St. Catherine of Siena over the next few months we will highlight all that is done to bring corporal and spiritual works of mercy to life, illustrating how your fellow parishioners continue the mission and ministry of Christ Himself in our
community. If you simply look at the first page of this bulletin, note all that our Youth Ministry has done just in the fall semester here in the West Simsbury area. It is amazing! Then consider how many volunteers teach and proclaim the Catholic faith to our children—your children—so that they have hope in God who loves them beyond all telling, forming them into the people God created them to be: more than 64 catechist, Confirmation
teachers and assistants each weekend teach religious education along with 7 volunteer helpers. Also amazing! I thank them all in this Season of Giving for all that they do to help give faith in God to your children and families. We are blessed.