Newsletter - 12 January 2025
Holy Doors
Pope Francis has been very busy these days – opening doors! The Jubilee Year 2025 began on 24 December with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a specially-made-for-2025 door at the Rebibbia Prison on 26 December, the pope’s “cathedral” St. John Lateran on 29 December, St. Mary Major on 1 January and finally (my favourite Roman Basilica) St. Paul Outside the Walls on 5 January.
After a certain age doors can have a negative connotation – “memory swipe”. Perhaps you know the feeling – you walk through a door into the next room and forget what you came for. But holy doors are completely different, they are, well, holy.
These doors are opened every 25 years during the quarter-century years of Jubilee when the church calls everyone to pilgrimage and renewal. This year’s theme says it all: “Pilgrims of Hope.” Walking through the doors is a symbol of conversion, walking into a new way of life. Rather than forgetfulness, we walk into hope.
Here’s what Jesus said about doors: "I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). And Revelations 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.”
All the world is invited to Rome this year to walk through these doors and pray for a renewal of faith. If you can’t go to Rome, choose some kind of pilgrimage for 2025. Close to home is our beautiful Westminster Cathedral or the diocesan Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine at St. Dominic’s Priory where they have a Rosary procession the first Saturday of every month. Or why not the national shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk?
Or at a minimum, open wide your own heart – to the Lord, to others, to the poor, to your enemy. And do it with hope, for the Lord is there through that door to give us the strength and power to do it.
Nancy Wood, ccn
Focus of the Week
NEW BEGINNINGS
18 January 2025 10am – 3pm
At the beginning of this new year we invite you to join us for an opportunity to pause and reflect – on the gifts (as well as the challenges) of what has been and on the invitations and promises of what is still to come.
To register please email cockfosterscs@rcdow.org.uk or phone the parish office on 020 8449 6648
We invite a donation to cover our speaker’s travel costs and the lunches/refreshments we provide. A concession for the unwaged and parishioners of the parish of Christ the King.
Day £30/Concession £20.