ALL SOULS: There are several easy ways to pray for the Souls of the Faithful Departed in the first week of November.  The Manual of Indulgences offers several options ( http://www.catholic.org/prayers/indulgw.php ), and these are summarized below.  Note that one may gain a plenary indulgence by visiting a cemetery between Nov. 1st – 8th.  We have a whole week to pray for our loved ones departed!

13. Visit to a Cemetery. Only applicable to the souls in Purgatory when one devoutly visits and prays for the departed.  A PLENARY INDULGENCE is bestowed for this work each day between November 1 and November 8.

46. “Eternal Rest.” A partial indulgence only to the souls in purgatory. “Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.”

67. Visit to a Church or Oratory on All Souls Day. PLENARY INDULGENCE. A plenary indulgence, applicable ONLY to the souls in purgatory, may be obtained by those who, on All Souls Day, piously visit a church, public oratory, or -for those entitled to use it, a semi public oratory.  It may be acquired either on the day designated as All Souls Day or, with the consent of the bishop, on the preceding or following Sundayor the feast of All Saints. On visiting the church or oratory it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.

Christians throughout Genesee County are invited to take part in the international 40 Days for Life effort from September 23 through November 3.

This year Jim and Nancy Hall are heading up the Flint campaign involving multiple churches.  They are asking for volunteers to hold vigil at Planned Parenthood.  Please contact them if you are able to help:  (810) 639-2551, (810) 287-1642 or (810) 287-3122 or sign-up here

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Join now to sign up for our prayer vigil and keep in touch with us. https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/flint and email us at Flint40Daysforlife@gmail.com

Are you or someone you know seeking a closer relationship with Jesus?  Are there questions about the Catholic faith that need to be answered?  Or would you like to help others in their journey toward discerning the Catholic faith?  Then consider participating in this year’s Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)!  Classes will be starting soon.  If you would like to join us, or have any questions, please call the parish office or Bill or Sherry Stroup at 810-348-6990.

See more information here

Pope Francis opened the Jubilee Year of Hope for the universal Church on Christmas Eve 2024 in Rome. Pope Francis released a papal bull proclaiming the Holy Year 2025. The Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year is entitled Spes non confundit (“Hope does not disappoint” and can be found here). In addition, the Apostolic Penitentiary has published this decree.

The Jubilee of Hope Opened in the Diocese of Lansing on December 29, 2024,
The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

To Strengthen & Share Hope

A central aspect of the Jubilee Year is the Jubilee Year Indulgence.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY
INDULGENCES FOR JUBILEE YEAR 2025

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.

The indulgence applies to sins already forgiven. A plenary indulgence cleanses the soul as if the person had just been baptized. Plenary indulgences obtained during the Jubilee Year can also be applied to souls in purgatory with the possibility of obtaining two plenary indulgences for the deceased in one day.

To obtain an indulgence, the usual conditions of detachment from all sin, sacramental confession, holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope must be met. (Usually, an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be).

1. Make a Pilgrimage to Rome and pray for the Pope’s intentions in any one of the Four Major Papal Basilicas (St. Peter’s Basilica, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, or St. Paul Outside the Walls) or any of the special Jubilee churches listed by the Apostolic penitentiary in Rome.
    
2. Make a pilgrimage to one of the following churches in Italy: Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto Basilica of Our Lady of Pompeii, Basilica in St. Anthony in Padua, OR in the Holy Land: Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
    
3. Perform an extraordinary work of mercy such as a generous gift to the poor, or visiting nursing homes or prisons
4. Participate in diocesan or parish sponsored spiritual exercises, missions, or formation activities based on the documents of the Second Vatican Council or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
    
5. Visit any local Cathedral, Marian Shrine, or other special church designated by the local bishop for obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence.
    
6. Fasting at least one day a week from “futile distractions” such as social media, television, video games, certain phone Holy Doors: Holy Doors are to be opened at the Papal Basilicas of St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls (no. 6) and at the Rebibbia Prison in Rome. The Dicastery for Evangelization notes that the distinguishing mark of the Jubilee Year is not the Holy Door, but rather the Jubilee Indulgence, received through the Sacrament of Penance and acts of charity and hope. The various ways and many places where this indulgence may be obtained are summarized above and are outlined in the Apostolic Penitentiary’s Decree on the Granting of the Jubilee Indulgence, issued May 13, 2024. 

Holy Doors:

Holy Doors are to be opened at the Papal Basilicas of St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls (no. 6) and at the Rebibbia Prison in Rome. The Dicastery for Evangelization notes that the distinguishing mark of the Jubilee Year is not the Holy Door, but rather the Jubilee Indulgence, received through the Sacrament of Penance and acts of charity and hope. The various ways and many places where this indulgence may be obtained are summarized above and are outlined in the Apostolic Penitentiary’s Decree on the Granting of the Jubilee Indulgence issued May 13, 2024.

Click here to learn more:

+Find out conditions for how to obtain the Jubilee Year Indulgences

+Diocesan Events for the Jubilee Year

+Places of Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Lansing

+Questions Regarding Indulgences