Catholics from all over the Diocese filled Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino to capacity for the special Diocesan liturgy, which happened the same day that Pope Francis opened the Jubilee with a Mass at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.
The 6 p.m. Mass began with a candlelight procession from the parish hall to the Holy Door at the side of the Cathedral, which had been ceremonially sealed on Oct. 31. The faithful filled the church courtyard as Bishop Barnes stood at the Holy Door.
“This is the Lord’s gate,” he proclaimed. “Let us enter through it and obtain mercy and forgiveness.”
Bishop Barnes then opened the Holy Door and proceeded through it holding aloft the Book of the Gospels. Attendees filed into the church through the Holy Door and other doors were also opened for entry. The Mass proceeded in bilingual format, English and Spanish.
In his homily, Bishop Barnes made reference to the tragic attack that had occurred at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino just six days earlier.
“These past days have been difficult,” the Bishop said. “Perhaps they can be taken as a wake-up call to reconnect with our God.”
He then framed his talk around the question of why Pope Francis has called the Church to focus on mercy this year. “Why now?” He offered many challenging reflections on this question:
“Maybe it’s because you and I, priests and laity, sisters and deacons, have forgotten God’s mercy, God’s love for all people – even those we find disgusting, unfit, that we are ready to belittle and to discard – God loves them.”
“We have forgotten perhaps what it really means to be loved no matter what, and to be loved by a God who is always ready to forgive.”
Bishop Barnes concluded his homily by asking the congregation to take a few moments to fill out a card that posed three questions:
How can I be an instrument to the extend the Mercy of God?
What concrete action can I do to further the Mercy that comes from God during the Jubilee Year?
What Mercy of God am I most in need of?
The Marian dimension of the day was highlighted at the close of Mass as the traditional Latin hymn “O Sanctissima” was sung as Catholic school students processed to the statue of the Virgin Mary in the Sanctuary of the church and presented her with roses.
Despite the darkened mood in the region over the previous week, Sister Jeremy Gallet, SP, who coordinated the Mass, said she felt an enthusiasm from the people about the start of the Jubilee Year.
“People seemed really jazzed about it,” said Sr. Gallet, Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese. “They kept their candles. I think everybody wanted to a souvenir to take home.”