Permanent Holy Doors around the World You’re invited to: Can you match the pictures below with the Holy Door locations A Pilgrimage to the Holy Door of Mercy in the table below? at Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine in Merlin, ON.

A B C D

Date: August 17, 2016 E F G Occasion: SCCDSB Shrine Day Holy Door Locations: Church, City, Guess Country Notre Dame Basilica Cathedral, Quebec City, Canada St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy St Mary Major Basilica, Rome, Italy Time: Shrine Day Mass starts at 11am, St Paul’s Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy Rosary Procession will begin approx. around 1:30pm St John Lateran Basilica, Rome, Italy Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain There is a picnic area and there are washrooms available. Saint John Vianney: Cure of Ars, Formans, France We invite you to bring your own picnic lunch and lawn chairs. Answers on inside back cover. Jubilee Year of Mercy If you designed a Holy Door of Mercy how would it look? Did you know that Pope Francis declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Draw your design below. Mercy? It started on December 8,

2015 and it finishes on November 20th, 2016. Pope Francis wants us to celebrate the Mercy of God in so many ways because it brings us joy, serenity and peace which we can then bring to others in our homes, schools, and in all aspects of our lives.

Holy Doors

Pope Francis states that 'the Holy Door will become a Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons, and instils hope'. There are some permanent Holy Doors around the world, including one in Canada. These are usually opened during Jubilee years. This happened at the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. (For more information, check out the back cover of this pamphlet).

Pope Francis also wanted the Jubilee to be celebrated not only in Rome but all around the world; for the first time ever, temporary holy doors are going to be designated in each diocese around the Check out these designs from world. The bishops have chosen the Holy Door locations for their other students

own diocese and have chosen either the main cathedral or a local

G C, B, D, F, A, E, bottom: to top from answers Reading historical church.

Answers: Matching Door Holy Permanent

Glimpses of what you will also find there. . . . Local Holy Doors of Mercy The Bishops around the world declared local “Doors of Mercy” so that people can experience God’s mercy in a special way this year. Outdoor mass There are two in our London Diocese; one in London, Ontario at St. Peter’s Cathedral

Stations of the Cross

Saints Trail and and one in Merlin, Ontario at Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine in Scavenger Hunt Merlin found at the Old St. Patrick’s Church location.

A Rosary Trail A Gift Shop

\ Picnic Tables A GOLDMINE OF FAITH . . . . RIGHT IN OUR BACK YARD!

CAN ANYONE SAY, “ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!?”

Pilgrimages to a Door of Mercy This year, if you make a pilgrimage to one of these locations, you could walk through the door and receive a special experience of God’s mercy called, a plenary indulgence. There are 5 things you need to do. Here’s a checklist: BEFORE your pilgrimage (within 20 days of your visit)  Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Receive Holy Eucharist Why is that important? A person who receives such an indulgence finds their soul in a DURING your pilgrimage special state of grace and perfectly prepared for heaven. Traditionally, we believe that we experience purgatory when we  Make a profession of faith (Pray the Apostle’s Creed) die; which means remaining outside heaven until we are cleansed  Pray for the Pope and his intentions of our regrets and sins. We do this so we can go into heaven with (an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary” is suggested) only joy. An indulgence means we do not have to wait. We are  Walk through the Door of Mercy in a state of grace already ready for heaven. (i.e. free from grave sin)

There are four beautiful trails to experience: "The Rosary Trail", "The Saints Trail" (featuring over 80 statues), "The Approved Apparitions Trail" and "The Stations of the Cross Trail".

Circle the date on your calendar.

Bring your children and your friends!

Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins are most welcome!!!!