Jubilee Year 2025
Pilgrims of Hope
What is a Jubilee Year?
In 2025, the Catholic Church will celebrate its next Jubilee Year—a centuries-old tradition rich with spiritual significance. This special time is dedicated to promoting renewal, spiritual growth, mercy, and forgiveness. The Jubilee was first initiated in the Christian era by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300 and is generally held every 25 years, although popes may proclaim additional Jubilees for special occasions. The last Jubilee, an “Extraordinary” Jubilee, was declared by Pope Francis in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council.
What is the theme of the Jubilee Year?
For the 2025 Jubilee Year, Pope Francis has chosen the motto “Pilgrims of Hope,” inspired by the words of St. Paul in Romans, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). In his letter proclaiming the Jubilee, Pope Francis beautifully reflects on Christian hope:
Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or the sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” ( Rom 8:35.37-39). Here we see the reason why this hope perseveres in the midst of trials: founded on faith and nurtured by charity, it enables us to press forward in life.
How do we celebrate a Jubilee Year?
Pope Francis encourages us to deepen our faith through pilgrimage, prayer, the sacrament of Reconciliation, and works of mercy during the Jubilee year. Each of these practices embodies the year’s themes of mercy, healing, and renewal. Pilgrimage symbolises the journey of conversion and commitment to following Christ. Prayer draws us closer to God, opening hearts to His mercy and guidance. The sacrament of Reconciliation is an essential part of the Jubilee, inviting us to rediscover the value of confession and experience God’s forgiveness in a personal, profound way. Works of mercy, both corporal and spiritual, play a central role as we are encouraged to perform charitable acts that support those in need, bringing Christ’s compassion and justice to life. Together, these practices make the Jubilee a deeply transformative period, inviting all to renew their commitment to faith, love, and service.
How our Diocese will mark the Jubilee Year
- The Jubilee Year will open in our Diocese on Sunday 26th January 2025, with Bishop Michael celebrating Mass the 9.30am at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral.
- Throughout the year it is intended there be opportunities for celebrations of Jubilee Masses for various groups.
- Pilgrimages are an important element of the Jubilee Year. The designated pilgrimage sites for our diocese are:
- St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Christchurch.
- St Patrick’s Church, Akaroa
- The St Mary MacKillop Chapel, Catholic Parish of Opihi, Temuka.
- Sanctuary of Fourviere & Shrine of Mary, Mother of Light, Leithfield.
Read more about these sites here.
- A Eucharistic procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi (Sunday 22nd June) is being organised.
- Following this year’s successful one day Prayer Conference, a further Conference is planned for August 2025.
- A Northland pilgrimage to significant sites of our Catholic Faith in Aotearoa.
- There will be a concerted effort to invite people to undertake volunteer prison visiting ministry.
- A small prayer book will be developed entitled “Pilgrimage of Hope”
- A programme called Exodus will be offered during Lent, inviting men to prayer, fraternity and practise of disciplines
Jubilee Opening
Diocese Pilgrimage Sites
Jubilee Masses
The Jubilee Prayer
The Jubilee Hymn
