Pilgrimages

Pope Francis has declared that 2025 will be a Jubilee year, and all young adults (ages 18-39) are invited to join the archdiocesan pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi to participate! The Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry is partnering with Verso Ministries to offer a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi for the Jubilee on July 27-August 6, 2025.This pilgrimage is open to all young adults (ages 18-39). This pilgrimage offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich history of Rome, walk through the holy doors for the Jubilee year, participate in adoration and Mass with Pope Francis, and visit the home of Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi. We will also attend the canonization Mass for Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Cost for the trip is $3,881 per person (flights not included).

The Archdiocesan young adult trip to Rome is now closed for registration. If you would like to join the waitlist, please click the link and click "Register" on the Verso site. 

For more information on the pilgrimage, visit: versoministries.com/archgh-jubilee
If you have any issues, please reach out to [email protected] 

“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year where the faithful are called to reconnect with God in a new way. We can find an early indication of it in the Bible: a Jubilee year was to be marked every 50 years (cf. Leviticus 25:8-13). It was intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.

Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ mission in this way: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus lives out these words in his daily life, in his encounters with others and in his relationships, all of which bring about liberation and conversion.

In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee, also known as a “Holy Year,” since it is a time in which God's holiness transforms us. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over time: at first, they were celebrated every 100 years; later, in 1343 Pope Clement VI reduced the gap between Jubilees to every 50 years, and in 1470 Pope Paul II made it every 25 years. There have also been “extraordinary” Holy Years: for example, in 1933 Pope Pius XI chose to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the Redemption, and in 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy as an extraordinary jubilee. The way in which Jubilee Years are marked has also changed through the centuries: originally the Holy Year consisted of a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, later other signs were added, such as the Holy Door. By participating in the Holy Year, one is granted a plenary indulgence.

More information available here: What is the Jubilee? (iubilaeum2025.va)

The full calendar of Jubilee events can be found here. For the 2025 Jubilee, there is one week dedicated to youth, which includes teenagers and young adults, on July 28-August 3. The Vatican is expecting many pilgrims to come to Rome during this week and is planning on offering special events and opportunities for these pilgrims (catechesis sessions, musical concerts, prayer opportunities, etc.) during the week (similar to World Youth Day).

During the Jubilee of Youth and Young Adults, there will be several key moments of encounter for the pilgrims including:

Opening Mass: On Tuesday, July 29, there will be an opening Mass for all pilgrims during the Jubilee of Youth.

Entrance to one Jubilee Holy Door: Pope Francis will open the Holy Doors in Rome at the start of the Jubilee year of 2025. These doors will be open throughout the year for pilgrims to enter. In crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, the pilgrim is reminded of the passage from John:10: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” Passing through the Holy Door expresses the decision to follow and be guided by Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd. All pilgrims will be given a timed entrance to ONE of the holy doors at one of the 4 major basilicas in Rome.

Walking Pilgrimage: On Saturday, August 2, participants embark on a true pilgrimage by walking anywhere from 7-15 miles to arrive at the site for the Overnight Vigil. The hike is a moment of physical exertion that unites the modern-day pilgrims with pilgrims of Jesus day who would walk to Jerusalem for various feasts, especially the Passover. 

Overnight Vigil: With all pilgrims in one place, the overnight vigil is a true experience. Pilgrims from all over the world first meet for a moment of prayer with Eucharistic adoration, led by the Pope, followed by a night under the stars. This vigil will be held in the same spot of the vigil during WYD 2000 with Pope John Paul II.

Closing Mass & Canonization for Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati with the Holy Father: On Sunday, August 3, join the Holy Father and your fellow pilgrims for the closing Mass of the Jubilee of Youth. This is celebrated on the same field from the overnight vigil. 

July 27-August 6, 2025

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be offering a pilgrimage for young adults (ages 18-39) to participate in the Jubilee of Youth and Young Adults in Rome. We will also spend 2 days in Assisi after the Jubilee events end.

Calling All Houston Pilgrims

If you are a parish or school leader who is also planning to be in Rome during these dates, please reach out to the Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry to let us know. We hope to gather all other pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston together , for a catechesis session with Bishop Italo Dell'Oro, CRS, at the Basilica of Sant’Alessio (P.za di Sant'Alessio, 23, 00153 Roma RM, Italy) on Friday, August 1, at 9:30 am. 

Pilgrims of Hope
SPES NON CONFUNDIT. “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5).

Click here to read the Papal Bull announcing the Jubilee year.

Please consider making a donation to support young adults who are signed up for the trip to Rome in 2025! Please consider helping our young people encounter Christ through this special pilgrimage in 2025! Please text the keyword JUBILEE25 to the number 41444 to give! Or click here to give. 

Thank you for supporting Young Adult Ministry in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston!