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Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope

What is a Jubilee Year?

A Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church is a special time of spiritual renewal, mercy, and pilgrimage, deeply rooted in biblical tradition and historical Church practice. It is a year set aside to help the faithful deepen their relationship with God, experience His mercy, and renew their commitment to Christian living.

Origins of the Jubilee Year

Biblical Roots: The concept comes from the Old Testament (Leviticus 25:8-13), where the Israelites were instructed to celebrate a Jubilee every 50 years as a time of rest, liberation, and renewal—debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and the land was given rest.
Christian Adaptation: The first Christian Jubilee was established in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII, granting plenary indulgences (remission of temporal punishment due to sin) to those who made pilgrimages to Rome and followed penitential acts.

The Jubilee in the Bible

Purposes of a Jubilee Year

A Time of Spiritual Renewal – Calls the faithful to conversion, prayer, and penance to grow closer to God.
A Celebration of God’s Mercy – Emphasizes forgiveness and grace, offering special indulgences and encouraging acts of mercy.
Pilgrimage and Sacred Encounters – Encourages travel to Rome or other pilgrimage sites as a sign of faith and renewal.
Acts of Charity and Justice – Promotes social justice, serving the poor, and working for peace.

Types of Jubilees

Ordinary Jubilee: Occurs every 25 years as a universal call to a year of grace (e.g., Jubilee 2025).
Extraordinary Jubilee: Declared at the Pope’s discretion for a special purpose, such as Pope Francis' Jubilee of Mercy (2015-2016).

Key Elements of a Jubilee Year

Opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica and other major basilicas, symbolizing the path to salvation.
Special indulgences granted to those who fulfill specific conditions (pilgrimage, confession, Eucharist, prayer for the Pope).
Encouragement of acts of mercy, reconciliation, and service to others.

For Jubilee 2025, Pope Francis has chosen the theme: "Hope Does Not Disappoint" (Spes Non Confundit), inviting the world to rediscover Christian hope amidst modern challenges.

Papal Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee 2025

The Jubilee Celebration Calendar

Decree of Granting of Indulgence during Jubilee Year

Celebrate the Jubilee of Teenagers - April 25-27, 2025

The Holy See has designated a number of Jubilee Days throughout 2025 to recognize and celebrate different groups of people and various ministries in the Church. The Jubilee of Teenagers will be celebrated on April 25-27, 2025. Here are some suggestions for celebrating teenagers in your parish:

Use the weekend liturgies on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 26-27, 2025, to recognize all the teenagers in the community: in the homily, general intercessions, with a special blessing, or by inviting teenagers to serve in key liturgical roles. An example of a petition for the Prayer of the Faithful might include: For the teenagers in our parish community, that they be enlivened by the witness of the life of Saint Carlo Acutis to boldly proclaim the truth of the faith to a world in desperate need of a savior. Let us pray to the Lord.
Host a Jubilee Eucharistic Holy Hour at your parish during Divine Mercy Sunday, inviting the teenagers to lead and witness their faith to the larger community.
Plan a local pilgrimage for teenagers to the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. Contact the parish (808-536-7036) to let them know you plan to bring a group. After returning home, take time for prayer and theological reflection on the graces of God received during the pilgrimage experience.
Post stories about teenagers and ministry leaders accompanying teenagers on your parish social media and/or website prior to and/or during the Jubilee of Teenagers April 25-27, 2025. Be sure to have appropriate Photo/Video Consent Forms completed.
Gather together to participate in the Mass and Canonization of Carlo Acutis LIVE from Rome. (Sunday, April 27, at 10:30 AM. Rome Time - Saturday, April 26, at 10:30 PM Hawaii Time)
Go and watch the movie: Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality. Playing in theatres beginning April 27. It is playing in theatres locally, check your local theater for times.
Complete the Carlo Acutis Religious Activity (from NCCS).

Download Prayers.
Download a list of Key Saints and Blesseds.

As seen in the Hawaii Catholic Herald:

Jubilee Year Days of Study

During this Jubilee Year, all are invited to deepen their faith by exploring the Catechism, Vatican II, and more. These Days of Study will feature prayer, keynotes, workshops, and fellowship—engaging gatherings to inspire and equip participants in their faith journey.

Read the article in the Hawaii Catholic Herald.

April 12, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Annunciation Parish - Waimea, Hawai'i Island | Full Schedule and Registration available here. Download Flyer here.

Days of Study will be hosted on every island during this Jubilee Year. Questions? Email the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis.

Catechetical Resources

Vatican Jubilee Website - The Vatican’s official website offers specific resources, documents, and guidelines for the Jubilee Year 2025, including Apostolic Letters and prayers, reflections, and devotions related to the Jubilee.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Website - The USCCB has already released catechetical resources for major liturgical and jubilee celebrations.

Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an essential resource to teach about the core themes of the Jubilee Year, especially topics like mercy, forgiveness, pilgrimage, indulgences, and the foundations of our Catholic Faith.

Ave Explores: The Jubilee Year of Hope podcast

Looking for a pilgrimage to Rome this Jubilee Year?

Here are a few that we've seen advertised in our diocese:

September 17-28, 2025 Spiritual Director: Fr. Junvic Diolata. For complete information, click here.
October 12-22, 2025 Spiritual Director: Bishop Larry Silva. For complete information, click here.
November 2-13, 2025 Spiritual Director: Fr. EJ Resinto. For complete information, click here.

Where can I venerate the Jubilee Year Cross?

Bishop Silva has commissioned a Traveling Jubilee Cross that will be hosted by every parish in the diocese throughout the year. When the Traveling Jubilee Cross is in your parish, the faithful should be encouraged to make a pilgrimage. Jubilee indulgence may be obtained when the ordinary conditions are met, namely, detachment from sin, sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, with the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

A stationary Jubilee Cross has been placed in the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu for the veneration of all the faithful during this Jubilee Year.