St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Elgin. CREDIT: Diocese of Rockford

Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic church in Aurora. CREDIT: Diocese of Rockford

Two Catholic Churches in Kane County — Our Lady of Good Counsel in Aurora and St. Thomas More in Elgin — have been selected by the Diocese of Rockford to be homes of a “holy door” — local versions of the Holy Doors of the Papal Basilicas in Rome.

According to a diocese press release and website post, the holy doors are part of the Jubilee of Mercy announced by Pope Francis as “a year to be lived intensely in each particular church.” The local doors allow people who cannot travel to Rome to make a Jubilee pilgrimage.

Francis kicked off the year-long event Monday, Dec. 7, at the Vatican. The Catholic Church will begin its Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy today (Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015), an event called for by Francis on a topic he has heralded since long before his ascension as pontiff, according to UPI.com.

Holy Door Basilica of St. Peter, Rome. Ready for Jubilee of Mercy.

The pope ordained that one Door of Mercy be opened in every diocese and eparchy of the world. In addition to the Door of Mercy chosen for the diocese, the diocesan ordinaries may also permit the opening of other Doors of Mercy at shrines of particular importance.

The Rockford Diocese selected eight locations for the Doors of Mercy, including the two in Kane County.

Rockford Diocese Holy Door Parishes – Opening schedule

Aurora Deanery – (The Rev. Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo, V.F.)
Our Lady of Good Counsel – Aurora
Dec. 13, 2015 — 10 a.m. by The Reverend Timothy Mulcahey

DeKalb Deanery – (The Very Rev. Donald M. Ahles, V.F.)
St. Mary – DeKalb
Dec. 13, 2015 — 8:30 a.m. by the Reverend Dean Russell

Elgin Deanery – (The Rev. Msgr. Stephen J. Knox, V.F.)
St. Thomas More – Elgin
Dec. 13, 2015 — 10 a.m. by the Reverend Richard Rosinski

Freeport Deanery – (The Very Rev. Kenneth J. Anderson, V.F.)
St. Michael – Galena
Dec. 13, 2015 — 8:30 a.m. by the Reverend David Reese

McHenry Deanery – (The Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Hermes, V.F.)
St. John the Baptist – Johnsburg
Dec. 13, 2015 — 9 a.m. by the Reverend Jacek Junak

Rockford Deanery – (The Very Rev. J. Stephen St. Jules, V.F.)
Cathedral of St. Peter – Rockford
Dec. 13, 2015 — 10:45 a.m. PRIOR to 11 a.m. Mass by Bishop David Malloy

Poor Clares Corpus Christi Monastery *Limited access – click here for details
Dec. 13, 2015 — 7 a.m. by the Rev. David Vogel

Sterling Deanery – (The Rev. Msgr. Thomas L. Dzielak, V.F.)
St. Mary – Sterling
Dec. 13, 2015 — 8:30 a.m. by the Rev. James Keenan

SOURCES: Diocese of Rockford