Metropolitan-Archbishop Lawrence Huculak has issued a decree designating three churches as pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee Year of 2025. These are:
- The Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Volodymyr and Olga (Winnipeg)
- The Shrine of Bishop and Blessed Martyr Vasyl Velychkovsky at St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church (Winnipeg)
- The Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes (Cooks Creek, MB)
The Jubilee Year 2025, announced by Pope Francis under the motto “Spes non confundit” (“Hope does not disappoint”), will begin on December 24, 2024. On that day, Pope Francis will lead a prayer, declare the Jubilee Year, and open the Holy Doors in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Subsequently, on December 29, 2024, Catholic bishops in their dioceses and eparchies will announce the start of the Jubilee Year.
In the Archeparchy of Winnipeg, the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year will occur on December 29, 2024. The Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Volodymyr and Olga (Winnipeg) will begin at 11:00 am and will be celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Andriy Rabiy.
The faithful who embark on these pilgrimages to these sites are guided to:
- Participate in the Divine Liturgy
- Receive the Sacraments of Confession/Reconciliation and Holy Communion
- Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father Pope Francis
Once completed, these faithful will have the opportunity to receive a plenary (full) indulgence during the Holy Jubilee Year of 2025. This sacred journey not only deepens spiritual growth and personal reflection but also strengthens the bonds within the faith community. Let us embrace this holy time with hope and devotion, as we walk together in faith towards a future filled with God’s grace and blessings.
