Closing of Holy Doors marks upcoming end of Year of Mercy

On Dec. 13, 2015, Bishop Michael Mulvey stood in front of the Holy Doors in the Corpus Christi Cathedral, formally opening them for the "Holy Year of Mercy" to be observed through Nov. 20. As part of the Holy Year, a "Door of Mercy" was opened at Cathedral Churches around the world and at other designated churches within each diocese. The holy doors were to evoke the concept of forgiveness and reconciliation, which is the main focus of the Holy Year of Mercy.
 
Pope Francis will close the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica on Nov. 20 and has asked that Holy Doors in the Cathedrals of the world be closed before that time.  Bishop Mulvey will close the designated Holy Door at Corpus Christi Cathedral on Sunday, Nov. 6, during the 9:30 a.m. Mass. This will officially mark the close of the Holy Year pilgrimages in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. 
 
During the "Year of Mercy", faithful Catholics made pilgrimages to the Cathedral and other pilgrim churches located across the diocese, to receive special indulgences. The bishop has begun to close the Holy Doors at those other locations with the closing of the doors at St. Joseph's in Beeville on Saturday, Oct. 29. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. he will close the Holy Doors at St. Joseph's in Kingsville.
 
The following day, Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m. Bishop Mulvey will travel to Alice's St. Elizabeth Parish to close their Holy Doors and on Saturday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m. he will close the doors at the Shoenstatt Shrine in Lamar.