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Following Christ the King, whose regal power is love and mercy, means the whole church and each Christian must “follow his way of tangible love,” Pope Francis said.

“Imprisoned” doesn’t just mean bound behind bars in a correctional institution. For many of those who find themselves in prisons and jails, they also are held captive by something more — chemical dependency, mental health issues, the cycle of poverty.

Nearing the end of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis paid a visit to seven families formed by men who left the priesthood to marry. The Vatican said the visit was a sign that God loves and is merciful to everyone experiencing difficulty.

Looking directly at thousands of homeless and marginalized persons, Pope Francis asked for their forgiveness for failures to recognize their dignity and alleviate their suffering.

Bridges support us, protect us, provide safe passage, connect us and assist us in arriving at a new place. This is the foundation — and the name — of a recently formed group at St. Francis Xavier Church in Sartell designed to provide support and social activities for those who have lost a loved one.

With the special year coming to a close Nov. 20, words and phrases like “Holy Door,” “pilgrimage,” “corporal and spiritual works of mercy,” “dialogue,” “reconciliation” and “healing” call out for further reflection. For many, these encounters with God’s mercy have left a mark that won’t disappear when the jubilee year ends.

In honor of National Vocation Awareness Week, Nov. 6-12, The Visitor is featuring “snapshots” of a few of our diocese’s seminarians, who share something about their vocational calling or seminary life.

Talk to any seminarian and they will tell you the countless ways people from around the diocese support them — through prayer, notes of encouragement, visits, and sometimes through financial donations and fundraisers. All of these make a difference in their lives as they discern the priesthood.