As you are probably aware, Pope Francis has named 2025 (the 2025th anniversary of Jesus’ birth) as a “Jubilee Year”. A Jubilee Year is a year set aside for prayer and for pilgrimages to the Vatican or to local national shrines and basilicas. The theme of Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Announcing Jubilee 2025, Pope Francis wrote: “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. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.”
A banner with the Jubilee 2025 Logo will be in our worship space beginning this weekend. The logo shows four stylized figures, representing all of humanity, coming from the four corners of the earth. They embrace each other, indicating the unity and solidarity which should unite all people. The figure in the front is embracing the cross, a sign of faith and hope. There are rough waves under the figures symbolizing that life is not always calm. For this reason, we should pay close attention to the bottom part of the cross which is elongated and turned into the shape of an anchor, a well known symbol of hope. The logo illustrates that the pilgrim’s journey is not an individual undertaking but takes place in community. The cross also bends downward, not leaving us alone, but stretching out to us. At the bottom of the logo is the motto of Jubilee 2025: “Pilgrims of Hope.”
To learn more about the Jubilee Year you can go to the website https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html.
We will also be publishing local events and pilgrimages online and in the Harvest News Stay tuned!
A Prayer for Jubilee 2025 will appear in next week’s bulletin and online.
Blessings!