On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis once again opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, signaling the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope, during which 30 million pilgrims are expected to pour into the Basilica to gain an indulgence for the remission of their sins. Concomitantly, Bishop Libasci has decreed a Eucharistic Pilgrimage here in the Diocese of Manchester in the Year of Our Lord 2025 to emphasize and to celebrate the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. (See the Decree inserted in this week’s edition of the parish bulletin.)
Here at St. Joseph’s Church in Lincoln, we will celebrate in mid-January the installation of new doors on the front of the church building. The current wooden doors, along with the framing and hardware, have warped and deteriorated to the point of being energy inefficient and too costly to repair. (You may have heard the doors slamming during Adoration and Holy Mass!) The new doors and framing will be more energy efficient and will provide enhanced security measures, including transparency, better locking mechanisms and push bars to facilitate emergency egress.
There is simply no way to thank Millie Berry sufficiently for her generous contribution of this new enhancement to the church building. Millie has assumed the entire cost of this project, donated in memory of her brother, Bill Berry, and her mother, Mildred Berry. When you see Millie, please offer a word of thanks to her for her gift of the new front doors.
With prayerful best wishes,
Fr. John Mahoney