Jubilee Year of MercyPope Francis has declared that the universal Catholic Church will observe a Jubilee Year of Mercy from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016. In the
accompanying papal bull, he underscored the Universal Church’s “responsibility to be a living sign of the Father’s love in the world.”
Mercy Passport 2016This passport outlines the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
It is our hope that during the Jubilee Year of Mercy you will have anopportunity to perform these works as you live your faith.
Go to www.archlou.org/WorksMercyto record your Work of Mercy
by November 18, 2016.
Pope Francis encourages us, “It is my burning desire that, during this Jubilee, the Christian people may reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Let us rediscover these corporal works of mercy. . . And let us not forget the spiritual works of mercy . . . we cannot escape the Lord’s words to us, and they will serve as the criteria upon which we will be judged.”
Blessed are the merciful, for theywill be shown mercy. MT 5:7
Corporal Works
Feed the HungryIdeas for consideration:• HelpwithCatholicCharitiesCommunityGardensandassistclientswithselling
products at local farmer’s markets.• VolunteerwithMealsonWheels.• Donatetoafooddriveorfoodpantry.• Volunteeratalocalsoupkitchen,suchastheCathedral’sDailyLunchProgram,
FranciscanKitchen,orSt.VincentdePaulSociety.• Prepare treats for a family member or friend who is unable to do that for themselves.
Give Drink to the ThirstyIdeas for consideration:• DonatetoWaterwithBlessingsortoashoe
driveofWaterSteptohelpbringsafewatertothe world.
• DonatetoCatholicReliefServicessafewaterorirrigationprograms.• Livemoresimply–conservewaterwhilecooking,brushingteeth,orshowering.• Userefillablecupsandwaterbottleswheneverpossible.
Pause to Ponder: Our vocation as spouse, parent, child, sibling, and friend involves daily mercifulacts. What is something you ordinarily do that brings these works of mercy to the world?
My work of mercy:
My work of mercy:
Corporal Works
Clothe the NakedIdeas for consideration:• Takeaninventoryofyourclosetanddonateneworgentlyuseditemsyouareno
longerwearingtoaclothescloset–puttingthemtobetteruse.• DonatebabyclothesandotheritemstoCatholicCharitiesMother-Infant-Careprogram
orvolunteeratCatholicCharitiesSisterVisitorCenter.• Takegoodcareofyourpossessionssothattheyarestillofgoodqualitywhenyouno
longer need them.• LearnaboutotherorganizationssuchasDressforSuccess.
Visit the ImprisonedIdeas for consideration:• Volunteerforparishprisonandjailministry.• Visitthe“imprisoned”–homeboundoratanursinghome.• BecomeafriendlyvisitorinCatholicCharitiesLong-TermCareOmbudsmanprogram.• CollectquartersforlaundryneedsforhumantraffickingvictimsservedbyCatholic
Charities.• Considerbeingamentortothosenewlyreleasedfromprison.• Supporteffortstoendthedeathpenalty.• Makeholidaycraftprojectsorcardsforsomeonewhoishomeboundorinanursing
home.
My work of mercy:
My work of mercy:
Corporal Works
Shelter the HomelessIdeas for consideration:• VolunteerforHabitatforHumanity.• Becomeamemberordonatetoyourparish St.VincentdePaulConference.• Volunteeratahomelessshelter.• WelcomerefugeesandhelpsetuptheirhomesbyassistingCatholicCharities
MigrationandRefugeeServices.• DonatetoCatholicCharitiesUSAorCatholicReliefServicesdisasterreliefefforts.
Visit the SickIdeas for consideration:• Visitsomeoneinthehospitalorrecoveringfromanillness.• VolunteerasaCatholicCharitiesrefugeehealthcareorseniordrivervolunteerand
provide rides to medical appointments.• Supportorvolunteeratahospiceministry.• ExploretrainingfortheBefrienderHospitalMinistry.• Organizemealsorchildcaresupportforasickfriend.
Pause to Ponder: Our vocation as spouse, parent, child, sibling, and friend involves daily mercifulacts. What is something you ordinarily do that brings these works of mercy to the world?
My work of mercy:
My work of mercy:
Corporal Works
Bury the DeadIdeas for consideration:• Attendavigilservicetoprayforaparishioner.• Attendtheburialofanindigentperson.• Participatewiththebereavementministryatyourparish.• AttendafuneralMassatyourparishasasignofrespectforafellowparishioner.• Makecardsforsomeonewhohaslostalovedone.
My work of mercy:
Spiritual Works
Instruct the IgnorantIdeas for consideration:• Learnmoreaboutyourfaithandshareit with others.• DonatetotheCatholicEnrichmentCenter’sannualschool
supply collection.• BecomeaYouthRefugeeMentoratCatholicCharities.• Volunteerasaparishcatechist.• Exploreopportunitiestobealiteracyvolunteerortobecomea
tutorfortheCatholicEnrichmentCenter.• Offertohelpsomeonestrugglinginanareainwhichyouexcel.
Counsel the DoubtfulIdeas for consideration:• InvitesomeonetojoinyouatMass.• Share“thereasonforyourjoy”withafriend.• Volunteeratapregnancycrisiscenter.• Encouragesomeonehavingdoubtsabouthisorherfaith.• Sendanoteofgratitudetosomeone.
Pause to Ponder: Our vocation as spouse, parent, child, sibling, and friend involves daily mercifulacts. What is something you ordinarily do that brings these works of mercy to the world?
My work of mercy:
My work of mercy:
Spiritual Works
Admonish SinnersIdeas for consideration:• Respondtonegativeorhurtfulcommentswithapositiveresponse.• Inviteotherstostopgossipingandrefusetotakepartinit.• Confrontorreportbullyingwhenyouseeit.• Writetoyourlegislatorstoshareyourconcernsaboutissuesaffectingthedignityof
human life.• Modelappropriatewaystoactandrespondthroughyourownactions.
Comfort the SorrowfulIdeas for consideration:• Listentosomeonewithoutgivingadvice.• Participateinoutreacheffortstorefugeefamilies.• Visitorcallsomeonewhoismourningthelossofalovedone.• DemonstratecompassiontothoseinneedbyjoiningyourparishSt.VincentdePaul
Conference.• Spendtimewithsomeonewhoisfeelingleftout,lonely,orsadaboutsomething.
My work of mercy:
My work of mercy:
Spiritual Works
Bear Wrongs PatientlyIdeas for consideration:• Overlookminoroffenses.• Trustinthepositiveintentionsofothers.• Beawareofyourownshortcomingsandlesscriticalofothers.• Refrainfromtryingtogetothers“onyourside”whenafrienddoessomethingthat
upsets you.• Peacefullychallengeinjustices.
Forgive All InjuriesIdeas for consideration:• Forgivesomeonewhohaswrongedyou.• Declareagrudge“over.”• Prayforthosewhosechoiceshaveledtoaninjustice.• Encourageotherstoforgiveandhavemercy.• Tellsomeonethatyouhavehurtthatyouaresorry.
Pause to Ponder: Our vocation as spouse, parent, child, sibling, and friend involves daily mercifulacts. What is something you ordinarily do that brings these works of mercy to the world?
My work of mercy:
My work of mercy:
Four North Carolina A&T students sit at Woolworth lunch
counter by News & Record photographer John G. Moebes.
©Greensboro News & Record. All Rights Reserved.
Spiritual Works
Pray for the Livingand the DeadIdeas for consideration:• Committoatimeofdailyorregularprayer.• Praytogetherasafamilyonaregularbasis.• Practicespontaneousprayer–usingyourownwords.• PraytheRosary.• Visitthegravesitesoflovedones.• Rememberthelivingandthedeadinyournightlyprayers.
My work of mercy:
In GratitudeTheorganizationslistedbelowrepresentasamplingoftheCatholicpartnerswhobringChrist’s love and mercy into the world each day:
BefrienderMinistryFamilyMinistriesOffice502-636-0296family@archlou.org
BoysandGirlsHaven502-458-1171www.boyshaven.org
CathedraloftheAssumptionDailyLunchProgram502-657-5211 [email protected]
CatholicCharitiesofLouisville502-637-9786www.cclou.org/volunteer
Catholic Conference of Kentucky502-875-4345www.ccky.org
CatholicEnrichmentCenterOfficeofMulticulturalMinistry502-776-0262cec@archlou.org
CatholicReliefServices888-277-7575www.crs.org/connect
Crossroads [email protected]
Franciscan [email protected]
GoldenArrowCenterSt. Martin of Tours [email protected]
KentuckyOneHealthHospitalsShaneFitzgerald,[email protected]
St.JosephChildren’[email protected]/volunteers/
Schuhmann Social Service CenterSt. Martin of Tours Parish502-589-6696www.stmartinoftourschurch.org/social-concerns/schuhmann-center/
SocietyofSt.VincentdePaulCall your parish for a local conference [email protected]
Belowiscontactinformationforotherlocalorganiza-tions alluded to in the Mercy Passport:
DaretoCare(FoodBank)502-966-3821www.daretocare.org
DressforSuccess(Clothing)[email protected]
FeedingAmerica–Kentucky’sHeartland(FoodBank)270-735-1407www.feedingamericaky.org/
HosparusLouisville502-456-6200HosparusElizabethtown270-737-6300www.hosparus.org
MealsonWheelswww.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
OnbehalfofthefourbishopsofKentucky,theCatholicConferenceofKentucky(CCK)advances works of mercy in the form of public policy. To participate in CCK’s work, like Catholic
Conference of Kentucky on Facebook or follow @CCofKY on Twitter.
NotesWhatwereyourmostmemorableexperiences?
Whatdidyoulearn?