Decatur pilgrims celebrate history with special liturgy

From Dec. 8, 2015 through the feast of Christ the King on Nov. 20, Catholics around the world are celebrating an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy as decreed by Pope Francis. The jubilee began with the opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome and concludes with closing the same Holy Door. The faithful are invited to pass through the Holy Door as a sign of spiritual pilgrimage and receive a plenary indulgence.

Obviously, a trip to Rome is an impossibility for most Catholics so the same plenary indulgence is offered to those who visit a diocesan cathedral and pass through its Holy Door. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki performed the Rite of Opening of the diocesan Holy Door of Mercy at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield last December. On July 2, more than 50 pilgrims from Ss. James and Patrick Parish in Decatur took advantage.

“Our Prayer and Worship Committee has been actively promoting the Year of Mercy,” said Therese Allen, pastoral associate. “This pilgrimage is one of the activities undertaken to bring people closer to an understanding and appreciation of God’s mercy.”

The history of the parish and the timing of its pilgrimage was not lost on participants and its pastor, Father John Burnette.

“On July 1, 2007, Bishop Lucas merged the two oldest parishes in Decatur, the ones in the heart of the city, to make one parish … and it’s going very well, the people get along, we have a sense of mission,” Father Burnette said. “They’re here to pray for the Holy Father and to pray for our parish as well that we can be instruments of mercy.”

In addition to preparing a study guide for pilgrims, Allen arranged for a tour of the cathedral church conducted by its new parochial vicar, Father Braden Maher.