In this reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the Parable of the Good Shepherd.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

To meditate on this, see Panel 12: The Hope of Being Found at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

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• Get Your Copy of Opening the Holy Door by Joan Watson

In this first reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

To meditate on this, see Panel 7: A Father's Heart at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door.

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• Get Your Copy of Opening the Holy Door by Joan Watson

Join Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, as he unpacks Pope Francis’s bold calls to action for the Jubilee Year 2025. Discover how Catholics—and all people of goodwill—are invited to embrace the challenge to forgive debts, disarm violence, and advocate for human flourishing. Cardinal Czerny also reflects on the true meaning of the Church, not as a building or a place, but as the people of God united in living the gospel.

Learn how the holy doors of the Jubilee symbolize a deeper spiritual invitation—one that opens within our hearts, calling us to renewal and unity.

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• Get Your Copy of Opening the Holy Door by Joan Watson

Joan Watson, author of Opening the Holy Door, explores the rich history and purpose behind Jubilees in the Church, shedding light on the profound significance of opening the Holy Doors in Rome's four major basilicas. She offers practical advice on cultivating a pilgrim’s heart, embracing the mercy, hope, peace, and joy of the upcoming Jubilee Year. Joan also delves into the sacred imagery of the Holy Door, inviting us to reflect on how these symbols can uniquely inspire and move each of us on our spiritual journey.

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The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 began December 24, 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica. For the next five weeks, _Ave Explores _will look at how an Ordinary Jubilee is a chance for hope, repentance, renewal, and revival in the Church.

Spes non confundit - Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (9 May 2024)(https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/20240509_spes-non-confundit_bolla-giubileo2025.html)

LVIII World Day of Peace 2025 - “Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace” (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/20241208-messaggio-58giornatamondiale-pace2025.html)

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In the summer of 2024, Msgr. Roger Landry embarked on an extraordinary mission as the full-time chaplain for the Seton Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. For sixty consecutive days, he and a group of dedicated pilgrims walked alongside Jesus in the Eucharist, journeying from Connecticut to Indiana. Together, they brought Christ to bustling city streets, quiet rural landscapes, and unsuspecting hearts, sparking moments of grace and transformation.

In this episode, Msgr. Landry reflects on the profound impact of carrying Jesus in the monstrance through towns, over rivers, and into the lives of people—both those eagerly awaiting the Eucharistic procession and those surprised by the encounter. He shares how this pilgrimage reshaped his ministry and deepened his approach to Advent and Christmas, inspiring him to see Jesus more vividly and reveal him to others in new and meaningful ways.

Prepare to be inspired by this powerful testimony of faith in action and the beauty of bringing Christ to the world!

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• Order Encountering Emmanuel, the Advent Book selection for the Abiding Together Podcast

Amid the hustle and bustle of this time of year, it’s easy to lose sight of the heart of Advent—and the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus. In this episode, Jackie Angel, author of the upcoming Memorize Scripture, shares how immersing yourself in Sacred Scripture—through daily reading and simple memorization—can transform your experience of the season. Discover how slowing down with God’s Word can help you embrace the joy of Advent, prepare your heart for Christmas, and encounter Christ in a deeper, more personal way.

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• Order Encountering Emmanuel, the Advent Book selection for the Abiding Together Podcast

Advent is more than just a season—it’s an invitation to journey together as a Church, pursuing divine life with the Lord. In this episode, Fr. John Burns and Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, share their powerful ministry work with priests and religious sisters. They also offer heartfelt encouragement for all vocations, reminding us that holiness is a shared pursuit.

Join us as we explore how Advent calls each of us—whether single, married, or consecrated—to grow in unity and prepare our hearts for Christ.

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• Order Encountering Emmanuel, the Advent Book selection for the Abiding Together Podcast

Advent is a chance to encounter Jesus in a new way, and Heather Khym offers advice on how to settle into the new liturgical season and embrace it as a time of reflection and resolution.

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• Order Encountering Emmanuel, the Advent Book selection for the Abiding Together Podcast

In the first episode of Ave Explores Advent with Heather Khym, Fr. Dave Pivonka, president of Franciscan University, reflects on his favorite traditions of the Advent season and offers practical ways we can embrace the slow and intentional moments in the beginning of the new Liturgical year.

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• Order Encountering Emmanuel, the Advent Book selection for the Abiding Together Podcast