VISITING A PILGRIMAGE CHURCH
(Haga clic aquí para la versión española)
Bishop Robert Vasa has designated St Mary Immaculate Catholic Church as one of five pilgrimage churches for the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
For more information on the Holy Year of Mercy, visit the Year of Mercy Page on the Diocese Website
In order to receive a plenary indulgence by visiting a pilgrimage church, Catholics need to fulfill the following conditions:
- Pass through the doors of mercy of the pilgrimage church.
- Make a profession of faith in the church (either the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed).
- Pray for the pope’s intentions and the pope himself.
- Meditate on mercy while receiving Communion during a period either 20 days before or after visiting the pilgrimage church.
- Participate in the sacrament of penance during a period either 20 days before or after visiting the pilgrimage church.
- Optional (pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet)
The sick and elderly who are unable to visit a pilgrimage church:
- Make a profession of faith (either the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed).
- Pray for the pope’s intentions and the pope himself.
- Only if possible, receive Communion and meditate on mercy during a period either 20 days before or after making the profession of faith and praying for the pope and his intentions.
- If receiving Communion is not possible, then a person may also participate in a televised Mass or one shown on the Internet.
- Only if possible, participate in the sacrament of penance during a period either 20 days before or after making the profession of faith and praying for the pope and his intentions.
Incarcerated people who are unable to visit a pilgrimage church:
- Make a profession of faith (either the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed).
- Pray for the pope’s intentions and the pope himself.
- Fulfill the above conditions in a jail or prison chapel. If they cannot do this or if the facility does not have a chapel, they can be carried out in a prisoner’s cell.
- Only if possible, receive Communion and meditate on mercy during a period either 20 days before or after making the profession of faith and praying for the pope and his intentions.
- Only if possible, participate in the sacrament of penance during a period either 20 days before or after making the profession of faith and praying for the pope and his intentions.
Perform spiritual or corporal works of mercy
Spiritual works of mercy:
- Counsel the doubtful
- Instruct the ignorant
- Admonish sinners
- Comfort the afflicted
- Forgive offenses
- Bear wrongs patiently
- Pray for the living and the dead
Corporal Works of Mercy:
- Feed the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Clothe the naked
- Shelter the homeless
- Visit the sick
- Visit the imprisoned
- Bury the dead
- Make a profession of faith (either the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed) during a period either 20 days before or after performing a work of mercy.
- Receive Communion and meditate upon mercy for each work of mercy that a person does in order to receive an indulgence.
- Participate in the sacrament of penance during a period either 20 days before or after performing a work of mercy. One participation in the sacrament of penance can apply to any work of mercy performed during the period through which a person seeks to receive an indulgence.