Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
With hearts full of gratitude, we journey as pilgrims of hope. The Jubilee Year 2025 is an occasion of grace, an invitation to renewal and liberation in the mercy of our loving God.
Today, we observe a Day of Repentance and Reconciliation, I extend my pastoral embrace to each of you, as we heed the call to conversion and unity that echoes throughout this Jubilee Year.
In Psalm 95, the Psalmist exhorts us with these stirring words: “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” On this day, let us open our hearts to the gentle, yet insistent voice of the Lord, who invites us to a profound change of heart, to metanoia. True repentance involves two steps; a turning away from sin and a turn to God, the source of life and hope. It is a reorientation of our lives toward love, truth, and the fullness of joy.
This holy day offers us the gift of freedom—freedom from the burdens that weigh heavily on our souls. Whether it is guilt, resentment, or fear, the Lord assures us that no burden is too great for His mercy. He carries our yoke and lightens our load, as we place our trust in Him.
God’s mercy is the beating heart of the Gospel. It is a love so profound, so boundless, that it reaches into the darkest corners of our lives and lifts us into the light. The mercy of God is not something we can earn; it is an unmerited gift, poured out freely upon us by the Father, who desires not condemnation but reconciliation.
In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), we see a breathtaking image of God’s mercy. Despite the son’s waywardness and rebellion, the father waits for him with open arms, ready to celebrate his return. This is the essence of divine mercy and of hope: God meets us where we are and restores us with infinite love. No sin is too grave, no heart too hardened for the Lord to forgive. His mercy is always greater than our faults.
The Jubilee Year itself is a testament to God’s mercy. It is a sacred time to rediscover the tender love of God, who seeks to heal our wounds and set us free. The Lord invites us to cast off the heavy chains of sin and guilt, to leave behind all that separates us from Him, and to walk forward renewed in His grace.
Pope Francis beautifully reminds us, “God never tires of forgiving us; it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness.” Let us approach Him in humility and trust, confident in His promise: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we encounter this mercy in a tangible way—a mercy that renews, restores, and reconciles.
In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we encounter the transforming grace of God’s forgiveness—a love that restores and renews. Pope Saint John Paul the great once said that the Sacrament of Penance is a crucial aspect of “the experience of a more intense encounter with Christ.”
Do not be afraid to approach this sacrament, for there, we meet the face of the merciful Father.
As we reflect on our lives, let us ask ourselves: Where do we need to soften our hearts? Where do we resist the loving call of God?
Let us also seek reconciliation with one another, bridging divisions and offering forgiveness, as Christ forgave us. Let us resolve to heal old wounds, mend, and renew relationships, and build a community grounded in compassion and understanding.
Through God’s mercy, we are called to become instruments of mercy in the world. Just as we have been forgiven, we are urged to forgive; just as we have been healed, we are to extend healing to others. Our faith is made radiant when we reflect God’s mercy through acts of compassion, generosity, and justice.
We are called to be peacemakers, men and women striving for the common good, the advancement of our people through paths of peace, through reconciliation, through love. Peace and Reconciliation requires patience, perseverance, and an openness to the other through dialogue and mutual respect.
This Jubilee Year is an invitation to dive deeply into the ocean of God’s mercy. Let us open our hearts, trusting in the words of Psalm 103: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
May His mercy transform us, that we may become, in turn, ambassadors of that same mercy to all.
In this sacred observance, we are reminded that repentance is not a burden, but a gift; it leads us not to despair, but to hope. Let us walk this path together, sustained by the promise of God’s mercy and inspired by the assurance of His abiding love.
May Our Lord, the Good Shepherd, guide and strengthen us on this journey. Entrusting us all to the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, I pray that this Day of Repentance and Reconciliation brings healing, freedom, and abundant grace to all.
In Christ’s love,
Most Rev. Kendrick J. Forbes
Bishop of Roseau
