Jubilee Year of Mercy Bulletin Announcements / 1
Bulletin Announcements
The following announcements are intended for use in your Church bulletin. We encourage you to include mention of the Year of Mercy in each and every bulletin, and create your own announcements. Be sure to check the weekly Wednesday email from the Office of Communications for other related bulletin announcements. These and other bulletin announcements will be available on our website on the Year of Mercy Resources page under ‘Diocesan Resources’.
FEBRUARY
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Corporal Work of Mercy – Feed the Hungry
The Year of Mercy began on Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis said that this extraordinary year is a time to “experience the love of the Most Holy Trinity.” The Diocese of Syracuse invites you to observe the Year of Mercy by extending and encountering mercy in your everyday lives. This month, we’re focusing on the first Corporal Work of Mercy: Feed the Hungry. Contact the Catholic Charities in your county to find out how you can feed those who are hungry in your own neighborhood – or, contact your parish food pantry to make a donation of food or volunteer services. For more information, visit click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Counsel the Doubtful
What is a Jubilee Year? It’s when the worldwide Catholic Church spends a full year focused on healing and forgiveness. Faithful are encouraged to spend more time in prayer, to attend confession, and to evangelize. The goal of a Jubilee Year is to grow in our faith, increase our service to others, and foster a sense of unity throughout the Catholic community. To learn more about the Jubilee Year of Mercy, (Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 20, 2016) visit click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Corporal Work of Mercy – Give drink to the thirsty
During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we invite you to encounter and extend mercy each and every day. Shelters and similar organizations in your area can always use volunteers; devote a few hours to serving meals and then sit down at a table with the folks while they eat and have a cup of coffee and conversation with them. Your perspective on your own life will likely never be the same! Download the Year of Mercy calendar by visiting for moredaily inspiration and ideas!
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
What does Pope Francis want YOU to do during the Year of Mercy? The Holy Father is essentially calling us to do the following: contemplate, recognize, ask and receive, and extend mercy. Here in the Diocese of Syracuse, we’re focusing on the ways that we can live out the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy to encounter and extend mercy. To learn more, visit click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Admonish the Sinner
Pope Francis encourages faithful to attend confession regularly during the Year of Mercy. A great place to start is an Examination of Conscience. Ask yourself: how have I sinned recently? Am I praying each day? Have I honored the dignity and needs of others? Have I extended mercy to those around me? For more ways to examine your conscience, visit click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
MARCH
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Comfort the Sorrowful
“Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it. Mercy: the word reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity…it is the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us…it is the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.” ~ Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Corporal Work of Mercy – Clothe the Naked
We are longing for the warm breezes of spring, but the reality is that it is still cold, damp and dreary here in Upstate NY. For the homeless, the winter months can drag on. Consider the ways you can provide for those who lack warm clothing: collect socks, gloves, hats and scarves and donate them to your local Catholic Charities. Visit to find the Catholic Charities in your area!
MARCH CONT.
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
How can I encounter mercy during the Jubilee Year? The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great place to start! God offers us mercy when we confess our sins, no matter how long it’s been since our last confession. Faithful are invited to make confession from 4-7 pm at any parish within the Diocese of Syracuse on Monday, March 21st during the Lenten ‘The Light is On for You’ campaign. The diocesan website offers a number of helpful resources for making a good confession – visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
*Please run the Light is On for You announcement each week leading up to the event*
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
He is risen! As we celebrate the joyous resurrection, let us remember that, by His dying on the cross, Jesus forgave our sins – the ultimate extension of mercy! To learn more about the Jubilee Year of Mercy and the many ways that we as Catholics can encounter and extend mercy, visit to download the Year of Mercy calendar. You can also sign up to receive daily emails or text messages!
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Instruct the Ignorant
What is an indulgence, and how do I obtain one? The Year of Mercy has generated renewed interest in the topic of indulgences, defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a “remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.” Faithful in our diocese may obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse and entering through the designated Holy Door. For more information, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
APRIL
Corporal Work of Mercy – Shelter the Homeless
What are the Corporal Works of Mercy? Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. During this Jubilee Year, putting the Corporal Works of Mercy into action is an incredibly powerful way to extend mercy to those who need it most in our own community! This month, we’re focusing on shelter the homeless. A ‘Blessing Bag’ is a great way to extend mercy and comfort to homeless who may be outside in the cold during the winter months. Keep a few in your car and hand them out as you encounter someone in need. Visit for this & other great ideas!
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
On December 13, 2015, Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Cunningham opened the Holy Door at the diocesan Mother Church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Syracuse. Anyone who walks through this door throughout this Year of Mercy will experience God’s love and mercy! Faithful in the Diocese of Syracuse are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Door during the year. To learn more about the Holy Door, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Bear Wrongs Patiently
How can I encounter mercy during the Jubilee Year? The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great place to start! God offers us mercy when we confess our sins, no matter how long it’s been since our last confession. Confession is available regularly at all parishes, but don’t forget – you can call and schedule an appointment to make confession anytime! The next time you are at confession, let go of a long-standing grudge you may have been holding on to by confessing that you, like so many others, often have trouble extending forgiveness. You’ll be amazed at how good letting go will feel! The diocesan website offers a number of helpful resources for making a good confession – visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
APRIL CONT.
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
What are some practical suggestions for living out this Jubilee Year? Pray Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy Prayer each day, attend confession regularly, extend mercy by forgiving someone, read a great book (or two!) about mercy, learn and put into practice the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, pray the Divine Mercy Novena, and make a pilgrimage to the Holy Door at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – Syracuse. For more ideas, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
MAY
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Forgive all Injuries
What are the Spiritual Works of Mercy? Counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish the sinner, comfort the sorrowful, forgive injuries, bear wrongs patiently, and pray for the living and the dead. These may sound intimidating, but the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website offers practical and easy to understand explanations of each, along with suggestions for putting these works into practice in your own life. A link to the USCCB resource is available by visiting and clicking on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
What does mercy really mean? Mercy is a word that demonstrates God’s love and action towards us. Mercy assumes sin, but is found in God when He forgives us for our sins during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. By extending mercy to people in our own lives, we are becoming more like Christ and truly living the Year of Mercy. For more ideas for encountering and extending mercy, visit and download the Year of Mercy calendar.
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Mary: Mother of Mercy: why is Mary called the ‘Mother of Mercy?’ God fashioned Mary to be the very epitome of mercy in our world when he chose her to become the mother of Jesus. The Immaculate Conception is truly the supreme manifestation of God’s mercy! During the Marian Month of May and the Year of Mercy, there are a number of ways to honor Mary, the Mother of Mercy – visit for suggestions!
MAY CONT.
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Corporal Work of Mercy – Visit the Sick
We all know of an older person who is living in a nursing home, or someone who is struggling with an illness or addiction. This month, make time to visit someone who is suffering and offer them comfort and conversation. You’ll feel better afterward, too. To learn more about the Corporal Works of Mercy, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
JUNE
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Pray for the Living and the Dead
How can I encounter mercy during the Jubilee Year? This month, include a special prayer intention for someone who is still living and someone who is deceased. Including the intentions for prayer found in your own parish bulletin is a wonderful way to extend mercy during this Jubilee Year! For more ideas, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
It is not enough to offer someone a sandwich unless it is accompanied by the possibility of learning how to stand on one’s own two feet. Charity that leaves the poor person as he is, is not sufficient. True mercy, the mercy God gives to us and teaches us, demands justice, it demands that the poor find the way to be poor no longer. It asks — and it asks us, the Church, us, the City of Rome, it asks the institutions — to ensure that no one ever again stand in need of a soup-kitchen, of makeshift-lodgings, of a service of legal assistance in order to have his legitimate right recognized to live and to work, to be fully a person ~ Pope Francis
Learn more about how you can extend mercy during the Jubilee Year, visit
JUNE CONT.
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Corporal Work of Mercy – Bury the Dead
During the month of June, consider attending the calling hours and funeral Mass of someone in your parish – even if you didn’t know them personally. Offer condolences, prayer, and comfort to their family and friends. You may also wish to offer a Mass intention for all those who have died alone, without the comfort of family and friends. For more ideas, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
JULY
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
What does Pope Francis want YOU to do during the Year of Mercy? The Holy Father is essentially calling us to do the following: contemplate, recognize, ask and receive, and extend mercy. Here in the Diocese of Syracuse, we’re focusing on the ways that we can live out the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy to encounter and extend mercy. To learn more, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Spiritual Work of Mercy – Instruct the Ignorant
What is an indulgence, and how do I obtain one? The Year of Mercy has generated renewed interest in the topic of indulgences, defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a “remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.” Faithful in our diocese may obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse and entering through the designated Holy Door. For more information, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Corporal Work of Mercy – Feed the Hungry
The Diocese of Syracuse invites you to observe the Year of Mercy by extending and encountering mercy in your everyday lives. This month, we’re focusing on the first Corporal Work of Mercy: Feed the Hungry. Contact the Catholic Charities in your county to find out how you can feed those who are hungry in your own neighborhood – or, contact your parish food pantry to make a donation of food or volunteer services. For more information, visit click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
AUGUST
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Corporal Work of Mercy – Give drink to the thirsty
During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we invite you to encounter and extend mercy each and every day. During these hot months, why not set up a table in your neighborhood and offer free cold water and popsicles to those passing by? Let them know that you’re extending mercy during the Jubilee Year and to ‘pay it forward’ themselves! Visit LiveMercy.org for more inspiration.
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
On December 13, 2015, Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Cunningham opened the Holy Door at the diocesan Mother Church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Syracuse. Anyone who walks through this door throughout this Year of Mercy will experience God’s love and mercy! Faithful in the Diocese of Syracuse are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Door during the year, and the summer months are the perfect time! To learn more about the Holy Door, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
SEPTEMBER
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
What does mercy really mean? Mercy is a word that demonstrates God’s love and action towards us. Mercy assumes sin, but is found in God when He forgives us for our sins during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. By extending mercy to people in our own lives, we are becoming more like Christ and truly living the Year of Mercy. For more ideas for encountering and extending mercy, visit and download the Year of Mercy calendar.
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Have you encountered mercy lately? Perhaps a long-lost friend has reached out and forgiven you for something that happened ages ago. Maybe someone offered to help you out in a time of need. When you encounter mercy, take a moment to thank God for his never-ending love, and then make time to extend mercy to someone else who needs it! For more ideas and to learn more about the Year of Mercy, visit and click on ‘Year of Mercy.’
OCTOBER
‘Merciful like the Father’ ~ a Jubilee Year of Mercy!
Pope Francis says that it is during confession that we truly experience God’s unending love and mercy. Haven’t been to confession lately? If it’s been awhile, the idea of participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be daunting. Don’t worry: the Diocese of Syracuse offers a handy guide to making a good confession on Click on ‘Year of Mercy’ and print up the guide to bring with you!