His excellency, Bishop Joe Vásquez announces that the Apostolic Penitentiary has granted plenary indulgences for the following: 

1. Pilgrimage to the Traveling Statue of Our Lady of Fatima ( December 6-10, 2017);
2. Participation in the Diocese of Austin’s Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary ( December 10, 2017); and for the
3. 70 ^th Anniversary of the Diocese of Austin (November 15, 2017, through  November 15, 2018).

 
An indulgence is an act of faith by which a person may obtain release from the temporal punishment associated with sins committed, either for oneself or on behalf of another (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1471).
 

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In observance of the close of the centennial year of Our Lady of Fatima, a plenary indulgence may be received.

For able-bodied Catholics:

• Make a pilgrimage.

• Make a journey to one of the five diocesan churches on the day when the touring statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be present:
  • St. Luke the Evangelist in Temple on December 6;
  • St. Helen in Georgetown on December 7;
  • St. Mary Cathedral in Austin on December 8;
  • St. Thomas Aquinas in College Station on December 9;
  • St. John the Evangelist in Marble Falls on December 10.

For the elderly, confined, ill or those otherwise unable to make a pilgrimage:

• Offer their sufferings to the Lord living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial;
• OR they may also receive the plenary indulgence by completing a Corporal Work of Mercy or Spiritual Work of Mercy, especially prayers for the souls in purgatory.

In addition to the above, the faithful must:

• Have no attachment to sin (even venial) one may make an act of the will to love God and despise sin.
• Go to confession.
• Receive Communion while reflecting on God’s mercy, preferably within Mass.
• Make a profession of faith (Nicene Creed or Apostles’ Creed).
• Pray for the pope and for his intentions, which may be satisfied by praying one Our Father and one Hail Mary.

It is appropriate that the sacramental confession especially Communion and the prayer for the pope’s intentions take place on the same day of the pilgrimage, but it is not necessary. The sacramental rites and prayers may be carried out over several days (about three weeks) and at a place other than the pilgrimage site. A plenary indulgence may be gained only once each day.
   
For able-bodied Catholics

• Who participate in their parish Mass on December 10 (or the anticipatory Mass on December 9) where, united with Bishop Vásquez, the priests of the diocese will pray the Prayer of Consecration.

For the elderly, confined, ill or those otherwise unable to participate in Mass:

• Offer their sufferings to the Lord living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial;
• OR they may also receive the plenary indulgence by completing a Corporal Work of Mercy or Spiritual Work of Mercy, especially prayers for the souls in purgatory.

In addition to the above, the faithful must:

• Have no attachment to sin (even venial) one may make an act of the will to love God and despise sin.
• Go to confession.
• Receive Communion while reflecting on God’s mercy, preferably within Mass.
• Make a profession of faith (Nicene Creed or Apostles’ Creed).
• Pray for the pope and for his intentions, which may be satisfied by praying one Our Father and one Hail Mary.

It is appropriate that the sacramental confession especially Communion and the prayer for the pope’s intentions take place on the same day of the pilgrimage, but it is not necessary. The sacramental rites and prayers may be carried out over several days (about three weeks) and at a place other than the pilgrimage site. A plenary indulgence may be gained only once each day.
   
In observance of the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of the diocese a plenary indulgence may be received.

For able-bodied Catholics:
For the elderly, confined, ill or those otherwise unable to make a pilgrimage:

• Offer their sufferings to the Lord living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial;
• OR they may also receive the plenary indulgence by completing a Corporal Work of Mercy or Spiritual Work of Mercy, especially prayers for the souls in purgatory

In addition to the above, the faithful must:

• Have no attachment to sin (even venial) one may make an act of the will to love God and despise sin.
• Go to confession.
• Receive Communion while reflecting on God’s mercy, preferably within Mass.
• Make a profession of faith (Nicene Creed or Apostles’ Creed).
• Pray for the pope and for his intentions, which may be satisfied by praying one Our Father and one Hail Mary.

It is appropriate that the sacramental confession especially Communion and the prayer for the pope’s intentions take place on the same day of the pilgrimage, but it is not necessary. The sacramental rites and prayers may be carried out over several days (about three weeks) and at a place other than the pilgrimage site. A plenary indulgence may be gained only once each day.