"Pauline Year"

BISHOP’S PASTORAL MESSAGE

Bishop John T. Steinbock

June 2008

My Dear People of God,

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a special Pauline Year, beginning on the eve of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 28 and continuing through June 29, 2009.  This year marks the 2000th anniversary of the saint’s birth.  Our Holy Father has stated that this year should be used to heighten appreciation for the Apostle to the Gentiles and to his ministry of promoting the Christian faith and the unity of believers.

The Pope has declared that a plenary indulgence may be received by anyone making a pilgrimage to the papal basilica of St. Paul’s outside the walls of Rome during this year.  Since the vast majority of people are not able to make this pilgrimage the Holy Father has granted this plenary indulgence to anyone who attends a service in their parish on the inaugural and ending day of the Pauline Year, under the usual conditions of Confession, Communion, and prayers for the intention of the Holy Father.

I have asked every pastor to have a religious service in their parish either on the eve of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul or on the feast day itself.  This year the feast falls on a Sunday.  That service will be tailored to the makeup of each parish.  Some may have a half hour of the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, others a vesper service, or some other service with devotions and prayers asking the intercession of St. Paul.

I encourage not only parish study groups on the letters of St. Paul, but also encourage all the faithful to take time at home to read the letters of Paul throughout this year, and to pray to him to lead the fallen away Catholic and the unchurched to unity with the Lord Jesus under the leadership and authority of our Holy Father, the vicar of Christ on earth, and also to pray for the unity of all Christians.

The decree of the Holy Father also declared that the sick or those who legitimately cannot leave their homes can obtain this plenary indulgence if they “spiritually unite themselves to a jubilee celebration in honor of St. Paul, offering their prayers and suffering to God for the unity of Christians.

Also this plenary indulgence may be received by visiting a particular church throughout this year that has been declared by the local Bishop as a place of pilgrimage.  I am declaring that not only the churches dedicated to St. Paul be such places of pilgrimage, but all our parish churches dedicated to any one of the Apostles.  More information regarding this will be available a time goes on in your parish bulletins.