Pope Francis has announced that from December 8th, 2015 until November, 2016, a special ‘Year of Mercy’ will be celebrated throughout the Catholic Church. This is a call to all people of good will to come together and to show mercy to one another. In the Salford Diocese, Bishop John Arnold has blessed a portable “Door of Mercy” and this door is visiting each school and college starting in January 2016.
The Holy Door arrived at St Mary’s College on Monday 1 February. Pupils and staff from St Albans Primary School presented the door to Frank Dixon, Principal, Christine Macauley, Chaplain, Steve D’Arcy, Head of Religious Education, and to college students in a ceremony in the College’s chapel.
Frank Dixon commented “We are truly blessed and honoured to host the Holy Door on its journey throughout the Diocese. Its arrival has given staff and students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Mercy and to further highlight the importance of treating all people with the respect and dignity that each person deserves”.
The door will then be presented to the staff and students of St Joseph’s Primary School in Darwen on Tuesday 2 February 2016.
Once the “Door of Mercy” has visited each school and college in the Diocese of Salford, the Year of Mercy will be brought to an end with a large gathering and celebration in the Macron Stadium, Bolton, on 25th November, 2016.