Catholic Diocese of Sokoto marked the conclusion of Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy with Thanksgiving Mass in Holy Family Cathedral on Nov 11th. The Jubilee Year of Mercy was concluded at all Deaneries in the Diocese on Oct 28th. The Diocesan conclusion of Jubilee Year Mass was celebrated ahead of the formal conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy which will be led by Pope Francis in the celebration of a special Mass of Thanksgiving in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Sunday 20 November, the Feast of Christ the King.
The Jubilee Year of Mercy began on 8 December 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. The aim of the Year of Mercy was to allow Catholics around the world to focus on mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
Pope Francis marked the beginning of the Jubilee Year by opening the Door of Mercy in Saint Peter’s Basilica. He said, “How much I desire that the year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God. May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the kingdom of God is already present in our midst.”
In Pope Francis’ document for the Year of Mercy, he writes, “Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy.” The conclusion of the Jubilee Year in the Diocese does not imply that our focus on mercy has ended. As Christ Faithful, we are called to be people of mercy at all times by living out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in our daily lives.
The Thanksgiving Mass to mark the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy was Presided over by Very Rev. Fr. Nuhu Illiya, Vicar-General Administration representing the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah and con-celebrated by Priests in the Diocese.
Fr. Sixtus Onuh in his homily exhort the faithful to not conclude the year of mercy without showing mercy. He said mercy is different from grace. Mercy means not treating someone the way he deserves while grace means treating or favoring someone the way he doesn't deserve. Fr. Onuh urged the faithful to be merciful so as to obtain the mercy of God.
