Pilgrims of Hope
December 18, 2024
The 2025 Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope
The Catholic Church is preparing for a significant spiritual journey with the celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year, known as the "Pilgrims of Hope." This sacred time, officially titled Iubilaeum A.D. 2025, will take place from December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026. Rooted in centuries-old tradition, the Jubilee promises to be a moment of profound spiritual renewal and celebration for Catholics worldwide.
The Jubilee Year will start on December 24, 2024, at 7 PM with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City. This act, symbolizes the opening of the Church's treasury of grace and marks the beginning of a year of extraordinary spiritual opportunities. Pope Francis will preside over this significant event, welcoming millions of faithful into this period of renewal and hope.
While the Jubilee will be celebrated universally across Catholic communities worldwide, however it will be symbolically centered in Rome. The Eternal City is expected to welcome millions of pilgrims from across the globe, who will visit the four major papal basilicas-St. Peter's Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. The act of passing through the Holy Doors at these basilicas is symbolizing a journey from sin to grace.
At the heart of the Jubilee lies the act of pilgrimage. Millions of faithful will travel to Rome and other sacred sites to deepen their faith and experience the mercy and forgiveness offered during this holy year.
The Jubilee Year is more than a celebration; it is a profound opportunity for spiritual renewal and reconciliation. It is a time for Catholics to seek forgiveness of sins, obtain indulgences, and experience the abundance of God's mercy. For the Church as a whole, it is a chance to renew its mission of hope and charity in the world.
The motto of the 2025 Jubilee, "Pilgrims of Hope," encapsulates its essence. It calls the faithful to journey together in faith and trust, united by the hope that comes from Christ. This theme resonates deeply in a world yearning for peace, unity, and healing, inviting everyone to become bearers of hope in their daily lives.
In the Ukrainian Catholic archeparchy of Winnipeg we invite people to visit designated pilgrimage sites. The Cathedral of St. Vladimir and Olga in the city of Winnipeg, Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the municipality of Cooks Creek, and Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyr's Shrine at St. Joseph the Betrothed Church in the city of Winnipeg have been designated as places for pilgrims to visit from December 29, 2024 to December 28, 2025, where you can receive full Jubilee Year forgiveness of sins and pardon of eternal sentence.
All pilgrims who in these churches will fulfil all the conditions for the indulgence: receive the Holy Sacrament of Penance, participate in the Divine Liturgy, receive the Most Holy Eucharist, pray for the intention of the Holy Father, will receive a full Jubilee Year indulgence.
Please scan the QR codes for the letters of our Bishops for the Jubilee Year.
