KINGSTON (JIS) -- Archbishop of Kingston, the Most Rev. Hon. Charles Dufour, is encouraging the nation to act mercifully towards the indigent, especially as the Catholic Church celebrates the Year of Mercy. This, he said, could be achieved through the showing of love to an HIV positive child, the elderly and other individuals of society. In doing so, he indicates that “we are acting like Christ.” The Archbishop made the call as he delivered the sermon to launch the Year of Mercy and to ‘open’ the Holy Door of Mercy, at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Kingston, on December 13.
Heading the list of guests at the ceremony were Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Portia Simpson Miller and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Andrew Holness.
Recognized internationally from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016, the Year of Mercy symbolizes acts of compassion in thought and deed and places an emphasis on forgiveness. It is celebrated in tandem with the ‘opening’ of the Holy Door of Mercy and crossing its threshold is to symbolize spiritual renewal and the passage of sin to grace.
“We are called to change, we are called to conversion,” said the Archbishop. He also urged the nation’s leaders to act as a unified body.
The ceremony involved the Blessing of the Rose Window and the unveiling of a plaque by the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, the Archbishop and Consul General to the Kingdom of Thailand, Thalia Lyn, in memory of her parents, Gladstone and Maisie Chang.
Also attending the function were the Political Ombudsman, Mrs. Donna Parchment Brown, Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Sylvain Fabi and other members of the Diplomatic Corps.