Teachers make pilgrimage to the Door of Mercy at St George's Cathedral.

In announcing the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis has requested that all the cathedrals of the world - following Rome's lead - designate holy doors for pilgrims to pass through: "the Holy Door will become a Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons, and instils hope" ( Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, §3).

Today, all the teachers at Sacred Heart Roehampton took part in a pilgrimage to the Door of Mercy. We all passed through the door and then congregated in the cathedral to say a prayer -

The Door of Mercy at St George’s was opened by Archbishop Peter Smith and is open to pilgrims on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when the Cathedral is open.

The opening of the Holy Door at St George’s was a sign of the local Church in Southwark joining with the Church in Rome in celebrating the holy year, and in so doing underline the universal communion that exists between the particular churches and Rome.

During the Holy Year you should consider making a special pilgrimage to St George’s, the Mother Church of the Diocese.

Lord Jesus Christ,

You are the visible face of the invisible Father,of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing,so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and that your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed,and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother ofMercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.