Canada’s Holy Door, Québec City, Québec

(Observer photo/Courtesy Daniel Abel)

Destination: While there are eight Holy Doors in the Rockford Diocese selected by Bishop David Malloy, the only North American Holy Door specifically approved by the Vatican is the one at Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, which traces its roots to 1664.
Why to go: The idea of the Holy Door was conceived a few years before Notre-Dame de Québec parish’s 350th anniversary in 2014. The door was pierced into the Basilica-
Cathedral and its construction was funded by the Knights of Columbus. That year, more than 300,000 people from 42 countries, including 415 groups of pilgrims, passed through the door. More are expected this year.
In December 2015, the Holy Door was reopened for the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. Since pilgrimages to Holy Doors are encouraged during holy years, a whole team is ready to welcome pilgrims and visitors. A typical pilgrimage schedule includes recollection in the Pilgrims Garden, passing through the Holy Door, readings and prayers. Now a national historical monument, it was built in 1647. Notre-Dame de Québec offers a stylistic homogeneity even though it was extended, improved, bombarded, and burnt down over the centuries. After a major fire in 1922, the cathedral was restored using old plans and photographs. Among its main features are a neo-classical facade with two asymetrical towers, stained glass windows created in Munich and Paris, and three Casavant organs.   

(Observer photo/

Courtesy Daniel Abel)

(Observer photo/Courtesy Daniel Abel)

Access: The Holy Door is accessible through the Pilgrim’s Garden and up a flight of stairs. People with walkers or wheelchairs will need help.
Info: Address — Basilica-Cathedral, The Cathedral Secretariat, 16 rue De Buade, Québec (Québec), G1R 4A1 CANADA. Phone — +1-418-692-2533 Website — http://holydoorquebec.ca/en/
(Grand) Kid friendly: Yes, kids of all ages are more than welcome.
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld with assistance from François Miville-Deschênes of Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Rockford Diocese Holy Doors Johnsburg, Sterling

(Observer file photos)

Destination: Eight churches in the Rockford Diocese have been selected to be part of a Jubilee of Mercy pilgrimage.
Why to go: As Bishop David Malloy has explained (see his column, Dec. 4), visiting these selected churches during the Year of Mercy — Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 22, 2016 — will entitle the pilgrims to an indulgence. The diocese has designed a pilgrimage “passport” to record your journey. Download a copy at www.rockforddiocese.org/jubileeofmercy/files/Pilgrimage-Passport.pdf.
Each of the deaneries of the diocese has a holy door. Here are the McHenry and Sterling deanery parishes. (See the Dec. 4 Seasoned Observer for the Rockford Deanery, Jan. 8 for Aurora and DeKalb and Feb. 5 for Elgin and Freeport.) 
Johnsburg — St. John the Baptist: The first chapel for this McHenry Deanery parish was built in Johnsburg in 1843 on the Fred Schmitt farm, followed by another chapel on the Miller farm, and then by a first parish church. The second parish church in Johnsburg was being built in May 1850, when the Most Rev. James O. Van deVelde, Bishop of Chicago, visited the region. The frame building was used by missionaries until 1852, when the first resident pastor, Father John Jaconnett (1852-1853), was appointed. Father Jacek Junak, CR, pastor, invited Bishop Emeritus Robert Kurtz, CR, of Hamilton, Bermuda, to open the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address — St. John the Baptist, 2302 W. Church Street, Johnsburg Phone — 815/385-1477  Website —  www.stjohnsjohnsburg.org

Sterling — St. Mary: The earliest Catholic settlers in Sterling were attended by priests from Dixon. Father John Daly (1863-1876) was appointed by Bishop James Duggan of Chicago as the first resident pastor of Sterling in June 1863. In 1865, Father Daly began the building of a new brick church and rectory. In October 1893, Father James J. Bennett (1893-1909), became pastor. During his pastorate the old Presbyterian church being used by the parish was sold to the public school system and the present church and rectory were built in 1898. It was also at this time that the parish name was changed from St. Patrick to St. Mary.  Father James Keenan, pastor, opened the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address — St. Mary, 509 Avenue B, Sterling Phone — 815/625-0640 Website — www.stmarysterling.com
(Grand) Kid friendly: All the churches in the pilgrimage welcome children.
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Rockford Diocese Holy Doors Elgin, Galena

(Observer file photos)

Destination: Eight churches in the Rockford Diocese have been selected to be part of a Jubilee of Mercy pilgrimage.
Why to go: As Bishop David Malloy has explained (see his column, Dec. 4), visiting these selected churches during the Year of Mercy — Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 22, 2016 — will entitle the pilgrims to an indulgence.The diocese has designed a pilgrimage “passport” to record your journey. Download a copy at www.rockforddiocese.org/jubileeofmercy/files/Pilgrimage-Passport.pdf
Each of the deaneries of the diocese has a holy door. Here are the Elgin and Freeport deanery parishes. (See the Dec. 4 Seasoned Observer for the Rockford Deanery and Jan. 8 for the Aurora and DeKalb deaneries.)
Elgin — St. Thomas More: On March 23, 1959, Bishop Loras T. Lane created the new parish of St. Thomas More by dividing St. Laurence Parish and giving the new parish 15 acres to build a church. The founding pastor, Father Walter C. Roberts (1959-1970) arrived at St. Thomas More on Friday, April 10, 1959, and celebrated the first Sunday Masses two days later at the Highland Avenue School gym. Father Richard Rosinski, pastor, opened the holy door Dec. 13. The holy door is accessible 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, during Mass times on the weekend, or by appointment.
Info: Address — St. Thomas More, 215 Thomas More Dr. Phone — 847/888-1682  Website —  www.stthomasmorechurch.org
Galena — St. Michael: Galena, in the Freeport Deanery, is the home of St. Michael Parish, the oldest parish in the Diocese of Rockford. Bishop Joseph Rosati of St. Louis appointed a pastor here in 1832, five years before the first parish was established in Chicago. On Aug. 22, 1832, Father John McMahon (1832-1833) was appointed as the first resident pastor in what is now the Diocese of Rockford. It was also served by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, an early missionary in the Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin tri-state area. In 1993, St. John Paul II declared Father Mazzuchelli venerable, the first step toward sainthood. Father David Reese, parochial administrator, opened the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address — St. Michael, 227 S. Bench St. Phone — 815/777-2053 Website — www.catholicgalena.org
(Grand) Kid friendly: All the churches in the pilgrimage welcome children.
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Rockford Diocese Holy Doors - Aurora, DeKalb

Aurora - Our Lady of Good Counsel

DeKalb - St. Mary

Destination: Eight churches in the Rockford Diocese have been selected to be part of a Jubilee of Mercy pilgrimage.
Why to go: As Bishop David Malloy has explained (see his column, Dec. 4), visiting these selected churches during the Year of Mercy — Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 22, 2016 — will entitle the pilgrims to an indulgence.The diocese has designed a pilgrimage “passport” to record your journey. Download a copy at http://www.rockforddiocese.org/jubileeofmercy/files/Pilgrimage-Passport.pdf
Each of the deaneries of the diocese has a holy door. Here are the Aurora and DeKalb deanery parishes. (See the Dec. 4 Seasoned Observer for the Rockford Deanery.)
Aurora — Our Lady of Good Counsel: In 1908, Peter Hilgen and Conrad Reuland, sought permission from Father Charles Schnueckel, pastor of St. Nicholas, to start a new parish in the southeastern section of Aurora. Before he could give permission, Father Schnueckel died suddenly on Oct. 14, 1908, shortly after Aurora had become part of the newly created Diocese of Rockford, with Auxiliary Bishop Peter J. Muldoon of Chicago as its first bishop.
Father Timothy Mulcahey opened the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address: Our Lady of Good Counsel, 620 S. Fifth St. Phone: 630/851-1100  Website:  www.ourladyofgoodcounsel.net
DeKalb — St. Mary: From 1850, the parish of St. Mary in DeKalb was attended from the cathedral in Chicago. At that time Mass was said in the homes of Catholic pioneers and in the town hall. When the weather was pleasant, outdoor Mass was celebrated in a nearby grove of trees.
Father Dean Russell opened the holy door Dec. 13.
Info: Address: St. Mary, 329 Pine St. Phone: 815/758-5432 Website: www.stmarydekalb.org
(Grand) Kid friendly: All the churches in the pilgrimage welcome children.
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Rockford Diocese Holy Doors -- Rockford

Destination: Eight churches in the Rockford Diocese have been selected to be part of a Jubilee Year of Mercy pilgrimage. As Bishop David Malloy has explained (see his column from the Dec. 4 issue of The Observer), visiting these selected churches during the Year of Mercy — Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 22, 2016 — will entitle the pilgrims to an indulgence.
Why to go: The diocese has designed a pilgrimage “passport” to record your journey. Download a copy at http://www.rockforddiocese.org/jubileeofmercy/files/Pilgrimage-Passport.pdf to record your visits.
Two of the pilgrimage parishes represent the Rockford Deanery. They are the Cathedral of St. Peter and the chapel of the Poor Clare Monastery.

Cathedral of St. Peter

Cathedral of St. Peter: Bishop Malloy will open the holy door at the cathedral at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 13.
In the early days of Bishop Peter J. Muldoon’s episcopacy, Rockford was in one of its periods of expansion. There was much building going on, particularly in the north end. Many of the Catholics living north of Auburn Street had a long distance to travel to St. Mary Church. On June 4, 1915,  property was bought in the Auburndale subdivision and a small frame chapel was built on it later that year. The cornerstone for the current church was blessed by Bishop Loras T. Lane in August of 1958 and the church was dedicated on May 15, 1960. On Oct. 11, 1970, Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill designated St. Peter as the cathedral for the diocese.
Info: Address: Cathedral of St. Peter, 1423 N. Court St., Rockford. Phone: 815/965-2765  Website:  www.cathedralofstpeter.org

Poor Clares Corpus Christi Chapel

Poor Clares Chapel: Father David Vogel will open the holy door at 7 a.m. Dec. 13.
Bishop Peter J. Muldoon wanted a community of contemplative sisters within the diocese.  Repeatedly he requested Mother Mary Theresa, of the Poor Clares in Cleveland, to open a foundation in Rockford. Finally in March, 1916, two Poor Clare sisters arrived in Rockford to establish a community here. A residence on North Avon Street was converted into a monastery and was used until 1920, when growth of the community necessitated the purchase of the present property on South Main St.
Info: Address: Poor Clare  Monastery, 2111 S. Main St., Rockford Phone: 815/963-7343 Website: http://www.cloisteredlife.com/poor-clares/

(Grand) Kid friendly: All the churches in the pilgrimage welcome children.

Watch for more Year of Mercy pilgrimage stops in future blogs.
Learn more about the pilgrimages and other jubilee events at The Observer’s The Year of Mercy blog at http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/year-of-mercy

— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld

Send Destination ideas to SeasonedObserver@rockforddiocese.org

Papal Palace - Avignon, France

(Observer photos by Sharon Boehlefeld)

Destination: Avignon, on the Rhone River in the south of France, today is a city of about 90,000 people, about 12,000  of whom live in the ancient town center enclosed by its old walls. The old city is a popular stop on cruise ship tours, both for its medieval charm and for its historic significance as the home of the popes of the Roman Catholic Church in the 1300s. Today it is listed as a United Nations’ World Heritage site.
Masses are not offered at the Papal Palace (Palais de Papes), which is a tourist site and no longer a Catholic facility. If you tour there, check with your guide for local Mass times.
Photos: Top - The Papal Palace at Avignon, France, was the home of the Roman Catholic Church, 1309–77. 
Bottom - The Pont d’Avignon — the remains of a bridge at Avignon — stretches into the Rhone River in France. The small structure toward the right side of the bridge is a chapel and toll collection booth.
Why to go: The Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org) explains, “Avignon, which at the beginning of the 14th century was a town of no great importance, underwent a wonderful development during the residence there of nine popes, Clement V to Benedict XIII, inclusively. To the north and south of the rock of the Doms, partly on the site of the Bishop’s Palace, which had been enlarged by John XXII, rose the Palace of the Popes, in the form of an imposing fortress made up of towers, linked one to another.”
Today, most of the rooms are empty. When the papacy returned to Rome, most of the contents went back to the Vatican. Damage from both the French Revolution and later use as a barracks in WWII is evident in the building. But walking through still lends a sense of the grandeur once part of the palace. The chapel, currently in use as a gallery for an exhibit about the palace’s restoration, has amazing accoustics. When our guide demonstrated by quietly singing “Ave Maria,” all the other tourists in the large room stopped talking to listen to her delicate soprano.
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Self-guided, pre-recorded tours are available in English for 11 euros. One advantage of booking a tour with a local guide is there are several spots in the palace with large screens and available seating that are reserved for the guides and their groups to use.
Accessibility: This is a difficult site to maneuver, with hundreds of uneven stone stairways to reach the open areas of the palace. An alternative is to take a ride on a small tourist train from outside the palace. It costs only a few euros and has recorded information in several languages, including English.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course.
Info: Address — Papal Palace (Palais de Papes), Place du Palais, 84000 Avignon, France    Phone — +33( 0)4 32 74 32 74  Web — www.palais-des-papes.com/en 

— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send Destination ideas to SeasonedObserver@rockforddiocese.org

 

Take the Train Vatican City to Castel Gandolfo

(CNS photo)

Destination: Pope Francis’ desire for a church whose doors are wide open isn’t just a metaphor for encouraging a greater spirit of welcoming. He also has told the Vatican staff to lift the locks on places and spaces that were long closed to the general public -— the latest being the papal summer home in the hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo.
Masses are available all over Rome, but aren’t part of the tours.
Why to go: The head of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci, said the pope told him he did not want the rich botanical and architectural treasures of the papal gardens and villas to be wasted.
The tiny train station of the smallest country in the world is now open to ticketed tour goers so anyone can take a specially chartered train that leaves every Saturday for a round trip journey to Castel Gandolfo, just 13 miles away. Tourists can choose two itineraries and must book ahead online at museivaticani.va.
It’s the first time the apostolic palace, which houses the still-private papal apartments and the observatory dome of the pope’s Jesuit astronomers, has officially opened to the public.
Six large rooms display papal portraits, historical clothing and liturgical vestments. People can get an up-close look at a “sedia gestatoria,” or portable papal chair, popes’ embroidered cloth slippers and a gold and silver desk set used by Pope Pius VIII. Visitors also can venture onto a huge balcony to admire Lake Albano — an ancient volcanic lake.
Both itineraries have tourists leave the papal property right at lunchtime for three to four hours of “free time” in town before a late afternoon train back to Rome.
Options: A full-day ticket for $45 starts with a two-hour visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. After a one-hour walk through the Vatican Gardens, there is a one-hour train ride from Vatican City to Castel Gandolfo with a one-hour mini-train ride through the pontifical gardens. An $18 ticket includes only train transport and entrance to a museum space created in the apostolic palace.
Accessibility: It’s Italy, so most places will have stairs, cobblestones and hills to negotiate.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course.
Info: Web — museivaticani.va

— Catholic News Service
Send Destination ideas to SeasonedObserver@rockforddiocese.org