Jubilee Year – A Time of Renewal and Hope
Every now and then, we are given the gift of time to pause, reflect, and reset. In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee Year is exactly that – a sacred period dedicated to forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal. It is an invitation to repair relationships, reconnect with faith, and embrace a fresh perspective on life.
How Often Do We Celebrate a Jubilee Year?
The Church celebrates a Jubilee Year every 25 years. It is a rare and special occasion that encourages Catholics around the world to engage in prayer, pilgrimage, and acts of mercy.
When does the 2025 Jubilee Year Take Place?
This Jubilee Year officially began on Christmas Eve 2024 and will continue until 6 January 2026.
The Theme: Pilgrims of Hope
Pope Francis has chosen ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ as the theme for the 2025 Jubilee Year. This theme serves as an invitation to renew our hope and work towards a future where the resources of the earth are shared more equitably. It also encourages us to rethink our role within creation – not as owners, but as stewards, caring for the world with reverence and gratitude.
The Scriptural Roots of the Jubilee Year
The word ‘Jubilee’ comes from the Hebrew ‘yobel,’ referring to a ram’s horn that was traditionally blown to announce the beginning of this sacred year (Leviticus 25:9). In biblical times, the Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years and included acts of justice such as forgiving debts, allowing land to rest, and restoring property to those who had lost it.
Jesus himself embraced the spirit of Jubilee. In the Gospel of Luke, he stands in a synagogue and reads from the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming his mission to bring good news to the poor, free the oppressed, and bring sight to the blind (Luke 4:18-19). He calls this moment “the year of the Lord’s favour,” showing us that true faith is about building a world of justice, compassion, and freedom.
How Do Catholics Mark a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee Year is a time to reflect on our faith and take action. Many choose to make a pilgrimage to holy sites such as Rome, while others commit to prayer, acts of service, and reconciliation. It is a year to refocus, to seek healing, and to deepen our relationship with God, with one another, and with the world around us.
Living the Jubilee Year at Santa Maria College
Compassion is our Mercy value for the year, and it could not be more fitting. Jesus embodied compassion in everything he did, responding with kindness and care to those who suffered. Compassion is about taking action to bring about change.
Pope Francis’ call for us to be ‘pilgrims of hope,’ restoring fairness in how the world’s resources are shared, aligns beautifully with our Mercy value of compassion. This year, students and staff at Santa Maria College will have opportunities to reflect, pray, and act in the spirit of the Jubilee Year, embracing a renewed commitment to faith, justice, and service.
How Families Can Get Involved
Families are invited to be part of this spiritual journey by praying the Jubilee Prayer of Hope:
God, our loving Father, in this Jubilee Year, you remind us of our call to love creation. Help us to work together to replant, repair, and renew.
Jesus, our light, in this Jubilee Year, you remind us of our call to love our neighbours and to set free those who suffer. Help us to treat everyone with dignity; to be fair, forgiving, and kind.
Holy Spirit, our inspiration, in this Jubilee Year, you remind us of our call to grow in faith and love. Help us to hear you in scripture, to see Jesus in others, and to be united as God’s global family.
Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope. Amen.
For those looking to experience the Jubilee Year in a more tangible way, a visit to one of the designated Jubilee churches and shrines in the Archdiocese of Perth could be a meaningful experience:
- St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth
- The Basilica of St Patrick, Fremantle
- St John Paul II Parish, Banksia Grove
- Schoenstatt Shrine, Mount Richon
- Carmelite Monastery, Nedlands
- Sacred Heart Parish, Highgate
Whether through pilgrimage, prayer, or acts of kindness, the Jubilee Year offers an opportunity to renew our faith, embrace hope, and move forward with a sense of purpose. May we all take this time to be true ‘pilgrims of hope,’ walking together in compassion and faith.
References
CAFOD. (2024). Jubilee for Schools FAQs [PDF]. Jubilee Launch Day
CAFOD. (2024). Jubilee Prayer Card [PDF]. Jubilee Launch Day
Centre for Liturgy. (2025). Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope.
- CatholicFaith, Faith, Featured, JubileeYear2025, PilgrimsofHope, PopeFrancis, SpiritualRenewal, YearofHope
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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