Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

In May 2024, through the papal bull of indiction, Spes Non Confundit (鈥淗ope Does Not Disappoint鈥), Pope Francis officially promulgated 2025 as a Year of Jubilee. The Jubilee鈥檚 theme, Pilgrims of Hope, invites the faithful to journey together in renewing trust in God鈥檚 promises and embracing a future filled with hope.

Pope Francis wrote, 鈥淚n the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future might bring鈥 may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope.鈥

About the Jubilee

The tradition of Jubilee comes to us from our Jewish forebears. It was an event celebrated every fifty years as the year following seven cycles of seven years, in each of which, the seventh or sabbatical year was a year during which the land was left fallow, slaves were freed and debts cancelled. This followed a biblical command in Leviticus 25. It also was a time to recognise that everything we have belongs to God.

For Western Christians, 鈥淥rdinary鈥 Jubilees occur every twenty-five years and are times of pilgrimage and renewal. A Great Jubilee was celebrated in 2000, and an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015-2016. The Jubilee Year of Hope is a sacred time designated by the Roman Catholic Church to inspire spiritual renewal, deepen faith, foster mercy, forgiveness, and unity among people. It encourages individuals and communities to reflect on their role as bearers of hope, working towards a world grounded in love, reconciliation, and solidarity.

How HCDSB is Recognizing the Jubilee Year

The Jubilee Year of Hope is an opportunity for members of our school communities to accompany each other on this spiritual renewal and to promote the priorities in the Believing pillar of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP). Rooted in the theological theme of Micah 6:8, it is an opportunity to embody hope through mercy, unity, and spiritual renewal.

The Jubilee Year of Hope provides a rich opportunity to engage students, staff, parents, and parish communities in a year of spiritual renewal and collective celebration.  Beginning with the official Opening of the Holy Door at Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica in Rome on December 24, 2024, the Jubilee began in Dioceses around the world on the Feast of the Holy Family, December 28/29, 2024.

Locally, the Diocese of Hamilton has designated six Pilgrimage Churches, including St. Andrew鈥檚 Roman Catholic Church in Oakville, the Pilgrimage Church for Halton. These churches feature replicas of the Holy Door, symbolizing the invitation to grace, reconciliation, and renewal. All members of the community are encouraged to consider making a pilgrimage during the year to embrace the theme, 鈥淧ilgrims of Hope.鈥

Pope Francis, in his proclamation of the Jubilee, emphasizes the importance of looking to the future with faith and resilience, stating:

“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.”

Engaging in the Jubilee Year of Hope is directly tied to our theological theme: 鈥淲hat Does the Lord Ask of You?鈥 Our current focus is kindness, emphasizing the healing sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. In the 2025-2026 school year, we will shift to walking humbly with God, aligning perfectly with the concept of being a pilgrim on the Journey of Jubilee.

A range of initiatives are planned to celebrate the Jubilee across the 91pro视频 (HCDSB):

  • 础听Jubilee Committee聽has been established, comprising staff, parents, parishes, and students, to plan and oversee initiatives and gather resources for school communities.聽
  • Focus areas for the committee include Pilgrimage of the Cross, Staff Engagement, Student Engagement, Parent and Parish Engagement,听补苍诲听St. Andrew鈥檚 Pilgrimage Church.

Pilgrimage of the Cross

Beginning at the HCDSB Regular 91pro视频 meeting on December 17, 2024, the pilgrimage cross and a replica of the Holy Door were blessed at the Catholic Education Centre and moved to St. Andrew Parish, Oakville, where the cross spent Christmas. On December 28th, families from St. Vincent School carried the cross into the church for the official opening of the Jubilee.

Pilgrimage of the Cross: Schedule and Map

Please see a full schedule and map of the Pilgrimage of the Cross at our HCDSB schools by clicking the button below.