Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope
What Is a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on the spiritual life. In the Hebrew tradition, as recorded in Leviticus, a Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years with the freeing of slaves and the forgiveness of debts. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first Christian Jubilee, and since then the Church has designated each new Jubilee as a special year of grace and forgiveness, offering the faithful an opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence.
The 2025 Jubilee will be centered on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” As His Holiness Pope Francis so beautifully expressed it: "We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision." The Jubilee begins on December 24, 2024, with the official Opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, and runs to January 6, 2026, the Feast Day of Epiphany, with the Closing of the Holy Door. To learn more about the tradition of the Opening and Closing of the Holy Door,
On Monday 6th May, we were honoured to welcome the KCSP Jubilee Year of Hope candle to St Augustine's. Accompanied by Annemarie Whittle, KCSP CEO, and Joanne Burford, KCSP SIP, the candle is currently travelling around all the schools within the Trust to symbolise the spreading of hope during this special Jubilee year. We have been busy preparing our service, practicing songs, readings and a litany. We reflected on the message of Hope and how we can go forth and share this message with others.
Reception, Year 1 and 2 embarked on our Pilgrimage of Hope today as part of the Jubilee year. We walked to St Gregory's school Chapel. We were met by the pupil Chaplains of St Gregory's and their School Chaplain. There we had a lovely prayerful, reflection time, singing signs, listening to Bible readings and prayers. It was a wonderful time to think about our faith on our journey and encouraged us all to be Pilgrims of Hope. Thank you to Mr Wilson, Jane and the pupils of St Gregory's school. We will definitely like to return another time.
Whole school pledges -There was a real buzz in the air today as we launched our Jubliee of Hope year. We gathered as a school and embarked on a shared journey to mark this Holy year. Our school have been working on a display board of pledges of Hope. Our scripture today was from the gospel reading for the Sunday, Luke 4 where Jesus makes it clear his mission is to bring justice and freedom in our Jubliee. We have many more lane ahead for this wonderful year.
CAFOD Jubliee of Hope workshop.
Be a pilgrim with us in the Church Year of Jubilee
In a world that is growing more unjust and unequal, we invite people, schools and communities to experience the joy and strength in coming together as we respond to God’s call for a reset, a renewal of faith and a recommitment to a just world.
