“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
John 10:9
Doors have a way of inviting reflection. They can be plain or ornate, wooden or metal — yet every door has a purpose. Doors separate spaces, but they also open to new possibilities. They lead us somewhere different, somewhere beyond where we currently stand.
During a recent holiday in Quebec City, Canada, I came across a door unlike any other — a Holy Door in the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec (Our Lady of Quebec City). I learned that there are only seven Holy Doors in the world — in Rome, Santiago, and Quebec City — and that they are opened only once every 25 years during what is known as a Jubilee Year.
For the Catholic faithful, stepping through this Holy Door is an act of pilgrimage and devotion. It symbolises the journey from sin to grace — an outward expression of the desire for renewal and mercy. Passing through the Holy Door can be part of receiving what is called a plenary indulgence — it is a cleansing or purification rite of their forgiven sins. Other ways to earn a plenary indulgence include: praying the Rosary, attending Confession and Holy Communion, or visiting a shrine.
As I reflected on this, I found the symbolism of the Holy Door profoundly moving — a tangible reminder that life itself is a journey of faith, one step at a time, toward the fullness of God’s love. Yet one verse kept coming to mind:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8–9
While rituals and traditions can be powerful expressions of faith, the heart of the Gospel reminds us that salvation is a gift — not something we earn through works or pilgrimage, but something already given through Christ; we have already been washed clean.
Jesus Himself is the true Door. Through His death and resurrection, the way to eternal life is already open to all who believe. We are invited to enter freely, not as those who must prove ourselves, but as those who are welcomed by grace.
As we go about our work in our learning communities — teaching, leading, and caring for others — may we remember that every open door, every act of kindness, and every moment of grace we extend can reflect the love of Christ, who welcomes all.
Shane Paterson
Director: Leadership & School Improvement
shane.paterson@levnt.edu.au
