BRILL: Embracing Hope to welcome the Jubilee Year 2025

In the year 2025, the Catholic Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year. The Church has celebrated Jubilee Years for centuries, reminding us of the joy and peace that come through reconciliation with God and one another. We find the roots of this practice originating in the Old Testament as a time of forgiveness of debts and granting freedom. 

The Jubilee Year of 2025 can be a profound opportunity for spiritual renewal. Pope Francis has called this Jubilee under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” highlighting a time when we can look to God for strength and renewal. The Jubilee officially begins on Dec. 24, 2024, and ends on Jan. 6, 2026. This holy year invites every Catholic to grow in holiness, experience God’s mercy more deeply and bear witness to hope amid our world’s struggles. 

Jubilees offer plenary indulgences, pilgrimages and unique celebrations to draw us closer to Christ and His love. This upcoming year will feature Holy Doors in Rome, opportunities for indulgences and gatherings of pilgrims worldwide. It’s a time for Catholics everywhere to come together as a global family of faith. There are many ways to engage in the Jubilee Year.

Here are a few suggestions to get started: 

1. Attend an Opening Mass

Join us in celebrating the official start of the Jubilee Year with special Opening Masses. Attend on Dec. 29 at either the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston at 11 a.m. or the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary in Galveston at 12:30 p.m. These Masses mark a powerful beginning to our journey of hope and renewal as a faith community led by our episcopal shepherds. 

2. Make a Pilgrimage

Rome remains the primary pilgrimage site for the Jubilee, with Holy Doors open for visitors to receive special graces. Throughout the year, there will be gatherings for various groups, vocations and occupations to journey to Rome together. Closer to home, our designated local pilgrimage sites at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary. Try making a journey to the cathedrals in prayer to be reminded that we are all pilgrims on a journey supported by hope in God’s promises. 

3. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

A key element of any Jubilee Year is reconciliation. Confession is a powerful way to experience God’s mercy and refresh our hearts, leaving behind past burdens and accepting the grace of a new beginning. 

4. Perform Works of Mercy:

The theme of hope calls us to be active in showing love and mercy to those around us. This Jubilee invites us to follow Christ by reaching out to the vulnerable, feeding the hungry, supporting the poor and comforting those in pain. Each act of mercy makes God’s love visible in our world. 

Pope Francis reminds us that “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). This Jubilee is a chance to renew our trust in God’s promises, knowing that His mercy and love are endless. In a world facing many challenges, let us, as “Pilgrims of Hope,” bring light wherever we go.  

May this year be an opportunity to strengthen our faith, uplift our spirits, and come together as the Body of Christ.

Adam Brill is the director of the Office of Worship.