Bataan bishop opens Diocesan Holy Door

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos on Friday afternoon led in the opening of the Diocesan Holy Door of the Cathedral Shrine of Saint Joseph here that he designated as one of five Pilgrim Churches in the province during the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The respective Vicar Foranes of the four other churches simultaneously officiated in the liturgical celebration Saturday morning. The bishop started the ceremony with prayers at an improvised stage near the closed door of the church, declaring “Ngayong bukas, ako’y papasok at itong Panginoon ay papupurihan (Now that it is open, I will enter to give praise to the Lord.)”

The same liturgical celebration was done in four other designated churches: Saint John the Baptist in Dinalupihan, Saint Catherine of Siena in Samal, Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Balanga and Diocesan Shrine of San Roque for Healing and Pastoral Care of the Sick in Lamao, Limay town.

“We have chosen the five churches to serve as God’s channels of mercies and to share them to our people,” the bishop of the Diocese of Balanga said. He asked those passing the Holy Doors to reflect on their valuable roles in life

“When the Church opens her door, it means that she knows everybody and invites everyone. The Church welcomes and accepts all, recognizing all as her children. So, for her there is no barrier, no separation, no distance, no discrimination,” the Bataan prelate said.

He said that the Church makes everybody feel at home with her, regardless of social position, conditions and orientations. She treats and accepts all equally, regardless of contributions and connections, the bishop said.

“When the Church opens her door, it means that God is there, waiting for us. God is always watching us. God is ready to walk with us to lead us back to the gates of heaven. When the Church opens her door, it is now our turn, our time to open our hearts to Christ,” Santos said.

Pope Francis has officially declared December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016 as Year of Mercy with the desire that “the Holy Door will become a door of mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons and instills hope.”