Bishop Murry designates Pilgrim Churches in diocese
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Bishop George V. Murry has designated these churches in Diocese of Youngstown as Pilgrim Churches for the Year of Mercy.
In Mahoning County, St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St.; Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 343 Via Mount Carmel and Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, 2759 N. Lipkey Road, North Jackson.
In Trumbull County, St. Mary Church, 232 Seneca NE, Warren.
In Columbiana County, St. Paul Church, 935 E. State St., Salem.
Other churches in the diocese are St. Joseph Calasanctius Church in Jefferson, Ashtabula County; St. Peter of the Fields Church in Rootstown, Portage County; and Little Flower Church in Middlebranch and Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in Canton, Stark County.
In designating these as Pilgrim Churches for the Year of Mercy, a person making a visit to any of these sites for prayer and meditation can gain a plenary indulgence. Those desiring to make a pilgrimage to any of the churches are advised to call the parish to check on times the churches are open for visitation.
The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church is closely linked to the effects of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (penance) which is a central theme of the Year of Mercy. Pope Francis is encouraging all Catholics to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of the Year of Mercy.
In addition to visiting the designated Pilgrim Churches, a person can gain an indulgence by participating in a variety of practices among them being: reading sacred Scripture for at least 30 minutes; praying five decades of the Rosary; praying the Stations of the Cross in church; praying before the Blessed Sacrament for at least 30 minutes and by engaging in other works of devotion, charity and penance.