Imus Cathedral opens Holy Door to mark start of jubilee year of mercy

Hundreds of the faithful witnessed the opening of the Holy Door at the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Cathedral in Imus, Cavite on Sunday to mark the start of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.

The cathedral was one of the hundreds around the world that opened Holy Doors on that day to begin the jubilee year, a special holy period in which believers are encouraged to renew their relationship with God and seek forgiveness for their sins.

The jubilee year began on December 8 and will end on November 16, 2016. It is the 27th holy year since the tradition began more than 700 years ago and the first since the jubilee year of 2000 declared by Pope John Paul II.

Someone who walks through a Holy Door may receive a plenary indulgence (a remission of all temporal punishment for one's sins) if he is truly repentant, goes to confession, receives communion, and prays for the intentions of the Pope.

Before this year, only the Holy Doors of Rome's four basilicas were opened during jubilee years, and the faithful had to make the pilgrimage to Rome.

However, Pope Francis has introduced an innovation: dioceses all over the world are now allowed to designate a holy door in their own cathedrals that they can open and let the faithful in.

In fact, the first Holy Door the Pope opened this year was not in Rome but in Bangui Cathedral in Central African Republic during his visit there in late November.

At Imus Cathedral

Imus Cathedral serves as the seat of Diocese of Imus, a separate diocese from the Diocese of Manila and encompassing all the churches in the province of Cavite.

At the opening of the Jubilee Door by Imus Bishop Reynaldo G. Evangelista, the faithful standing and waiting outside the church immediately went to the door to touch the panel and pray. Nina Abad had been waiting since dusk with her handkerchief to be able to touch the door, which she believes can make miracles. "My daughter has been suffering from asthma since she was a child. I will use the handkerchief blessed by the Jubilee Door on her back to heal," she said tearfully.

During the ceremony, the curtains in the retablo of the church were also drawn to show the newly installed wooden crucifix created by ecclesiastical sculptor Willy Layug and commissioned by the Diocese. "I feel blessed [to be] part of the momentous event of grace and mercy which can only happen once in my lifetime," Layug said. — BM, GMA News