Parish makes Jubilee pilgrimage to The Mercy House

For some, living the Jubilee Year of Hope has meant traveling by plane to Rome and passing through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Others have become pilgrims of hope by making sacrificial journeys closer to home.

Such was the case for 30 pilgrims who traveled from Saint Aloysius Parish in Caldwell, New Jersey, to visit The Mercy House in Jersey City. They made their Jubilee trip in the company of Father Andrew M. Rubinich, a parochial vicar at St. Aloysius.

While serving as a deacon at Saint Paul the Apostle in Jersey City, he had often visited The Mercy House’s Jersey City location to perform charitable work. Father Rubinich wanted to return to a place that had helped shape his ministry—this time sharing the experience with a group of parishioners as a way to celebrate a special moment in the life of the Church.

On June 19, a diverse group of pilgrims traveled by school bus to Jersey City. In addition to Father Rubinich and Dr. Cathy Gibbons, the parish’s director of religious education, there were young adults, men and women, pilgrims from other parishes, and two Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell.

“Service has always been an integral part of the life of St. Aloysius,” Dr. Gibbons said. She said that the mission trip had “put names and faces on the people we serve.” Like Father Rubinich, she hoped that the day would “bear much fruit” in the hearts of those who participated.

*Cheryl Riley, director of The Mercy House, speaks to the pilgrims*

Hearing stories of transformation and healing

Arriving at The Mercy House, the group started the day with a Mass celebrated by Father Rubinich. Then Cheryl Riley, director of The Mercy House and the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Newark, welcomed the group and offered an orientation. The parishioners of St. Aloysius were given a tour of the building, met the staff, and then set to work.

There was much to be done. “The bus was filled to the brim with donations from our parish,” Dr. Gibbons said. After unloading boxes, pilgrims prepared packets of toiletries and nonperishable food. They stocked shelves. Donated clothes were sorted and hung. Other pilgrims sat down and chatted with residents during lunch.

“It was beautiful to meet and see the smiles on the faces of the women who find shelter, dignity, and the comfort of God’s love at The Mercy House,” said Francis Prior, a young member of Saint Aloysius Parish. “I loved hearing the testimonies of transformation and healing made possible by the goodness of this place and the wide range of spiritual and physical services they provide to those in need of another chance.”

Loading school bus The Mercy House — *Pilgrims load their bus with donations from parishioners*

Prayers and a time for reflection

At the end of their service day, the pilgrims recited the Jubilee Year Prayer composed by Pope Francis. They also prayed for his soul as well as for the intentions of the new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.

The bus ride home provided them with an opportunity to reflect on the day.

Sister Alice Uhl, OP, a Caldwell Dominican and former pastoral associate of Saint Aloysius, was moved by “the respectful and compassionate relationships of The Mercy House staff,” and the “goodness and beauty” of the people they serve.

Another Saint Aloysius parishioner, Dionna Del Vecchio, called her day at The Mercy House “a very rewarding and humbling experience.”

“It’s so easy to complain about ‘things’ we don’t have. Learning about how The Mercy House started and the work they do for the community helped me understand the things people truly do not have,” Del Vecchio said. “I could see the ‘things’ I complain about are just that — things, not necessities.”

You can see more photos of the Saint Aloysius parish pilgrimage to The Mercy House here.

To inquire about donating to or volunteering at The Mercy House in Jersey City, contact Cheryl A. Riley at cheryl.riley@rcan.org. For more information on The Mercy House in general, visit the website of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Respect Life Office.

Father Andrew M. Rubinich and Michelle Winkle contributed to this story.

Featured image: Parishioners of Saint Aloysius gather for a photo before their journey home, joined by some of The Mercy House staff. (Photo by Saint Aloysius Parish)