-
-
jubilee 2025: pilgrims of hope
2025 is a year to revive your faith, to experience God’s mercy, and to be transformed into a beacon of hope for the world. Join us at St. Joe's as we walk together as Pilgrims of Hope, embracing the grace of this Holy Year!
In 2025, the Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee Year of Hope — a rare and sacred tradition observed every 25 years. With the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” this Jubilee calls us to reflect on our faith journey and embrace the hope that God offers all.
The Jubilee began on December 24, 2024, when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and will conclude on January 6, 2026.
-
-
frequently asked questions
-
-
The Jubilee Year (or Holy Year) is a special time in the Catholic Church when we are invited to experience God’s mercy, forgiveness, and healing in a deep, personal way. It’s a period that calls us to renew our faith and live out the Gospel more fully.
The idea of the Jubilee Year comes from the Bible, specifically in Leviticus 25:10, where it’s described as a time of freedom and fresh starts. It’s a year when debts are forgiven, people are freed from oppression, and lands are returned to their rightful owners. It’s all about liberation and renewal.
In the New Testament, Jesus brings the spirit of the Jubilee to life in Luke 4:18-19. He says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to bring good news to the poor, freedom to the prisoners, sight to the blind, and to set the oppressed free.” Jesus' message is about bringing hope and transformation, which is at the heart of the Jubilee.
This tradition has been celebrated for thousands of years. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII officially introduced it into Christian life, and every 25 years since, people have marked this time as a special opportunity for spiritual renewal. Pope John Paul II, in the Year 2000, helped bring the Jubilee back into focus, reminding us that it’s a time to reconnect with God and to celebrate the promise of a new beginning through Christ.
The Jubilee is about recognizing God's transformative grace, offering us a chance to experience freedom, renewal, and spiritual growth.
-
-
-
This year, Pope Francis has proclaimed 2025 as a special Holy Year, with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope." It’s a year meant to ignite our hearts and show us that hope doesn’t disappoint. It’s an invitation to move forward, embracing God’s love and sharing it with others. In his Bull announcing the Holy Year Pope Francis wrote; “May the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the 'door' (cf. Jn 10:7,9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere, and to all as 'our hope.'” (1 Tim 1:1).
-
-
-
The theme for the Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” This means that we are all on a journey together, walking with Jesus and sharing His message of hope. We’re all called to help spread God’s love and hope wherever we go.
-
-
-
A plenary indulgence is a special gift from God that helps remove the effects of sin, giving you a fresh start. During the Jubilee Year, one way to receive this gift is by walking through the Holy Door at certain churches.
The Holy Door represents a new beginning and God's mercy. When you walk through it, along with praying and helping others, you can receive God’s forgiveness and feel closer to Him. It’s part of the Jubilee Year because this year is all about experiencing God's mercy and love in a deeper way. By doing things like praying, helping others, and focusing on God, you can receive this gift and feel more connected to Him.
It’s a way of starting over and getting closer to God.
To learn more about this in the Archdiocese of Chicago, please click here.
-
-
-
-
Living the Jubilee Year Through the Four Dimensions of DiscipleshipThe Jubilee Year 2025 is a special time to renew our faith, experience God’s mercy, and become beacons of hope in the world. This theme beautifully aligns with our Following Jesus mission, where we are called to love God with all our hearts and love our neighbors as ourselves.
As Pilgrims of Hope during this Holy Year, we are reminded that our journey of faith involves intentional steps toward maturity in discipleship. These steps echo the four key dimensions of following Jesus, which we will focus on here at St. Joe's:
Serve
The Jubilee invites us to acts of mercy and reconciliation. We are called to serve our neighbors in tangible ways, reflecting God's love. At St. Joseph’s, we have opportunities every week to serve through our Food Pantry, making lunches for PADS, building beds with our Bed Ministry, and our many other service opportunities throughout the year. Service becomes a way to bring hope to the oppressed and proclaim liberty to captives, just as Jesus did (Luke 4:18-19).
Pray and Worship
The Jubilee is deeply rooted in prayer, symbolized by the "great symphony of prayer" Pope Francis has invited us into for 2024. Prayer and worship are how we reconnect with God’s mercy and renew our hearts. Here at St. Joe's, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday at 11 AM or by appointment, giving us a chance to seek forgiveness and healing, just as the Jubilee encourages us to.
Connect and Invite
The Jubilee Year is a time to connect with others and invite them to experience the joy of God’s love. Invite a friend or neighbor to come with you to Mass or join in parish activities that deepen our sense of community.
Learn and Grow
In the spirit of the Jubilee, we are called to deepen our understanding of Jesus’ teachings. At St. Joe's, you can join a small group where we come together to learn, reflect, and grow in faith. Engaging in these groups allows us to explore Scripture, share insights, and support each other as we walk the path of discipleship. The Jubilee encourages us to grow in faith, just as Jesus' proclamation of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19) is a call to transformation.
This Jubilee Year is a time to embrace these steps in our lives, experiencing God's mercy and sharing His love in new and powerful ways.
-
-
-
HELPFUL VIDEO
-
prayer for the jubilee year
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise forever. Amen.
– Pope Francis
-
-
additional resources
