Jubilee Year - Pilgrims of Hope
2025
What is the Jubilee Year?
It is a special year of grace, running from the Solemn Mass at the Cathedral on Saturday 28th December 2024 until the Feast of the Holy Family on Sunday, 28 December 2025. Ezekiel (46:17) calls it the 'year of liberty'. Isaiah (61:1-2) speaks of it as the year of the Lord's favour'. The Jubilee Year is intended as a time of conversion with an emphasis on God's mercy. There is no better way to know God than to let him reconcile us to himself (2 Cor 5:20) and savour his forgiveness. Let us not neglect the sacrament of Reconciliation but celebrate the Jubilee by rediscovering the beauty of this sacrament of healing and joy. Not by chance, for the ancients, the terms "mercy" and "indulgence" were interchangeable, as expressions of the fullness of God's forgiveness. A Jubilee indulgence is intended in a particular way for those who have gone before us, so that they may obtain mercy. An indulgence is a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God's mercy. Leviticus 25 provides a broader social foundation for mercy; protecting personal freedom and property for the poor, breaking the poverty cycle, ensuring everyone has access to the means of making a living and escaping multi-generational poverty. The Jubilee logo shows four stylized figures representing all of humanity. They embrace each other to indicate the solidarity and fraternity which should unite all peoples. The figure at the front is holding onto the cross. It is not only the sign of the faith which this lead figure embraces, but also of hope, because we are always in need of hope, especially in our moments of greatest need.
A Journey of Hope message from Bishop Ralph
The theme for the Jubilee Year, 2025, Is 'Pilgrims of Hope.' The theme is particularly important at a time like this; in a world ravaged by wars, poverty and threatened by climate change, and with many people facing increasing economic challenges. This Holy Year can help us to keep lit the torch of faith that we have been given, so that everyone can look to the future with hope. Pilgrimage is an integral part of the Jubilee Year. We want to inspire people to undertake a pilgrimage as 'Pilgrims of Hope' during the Jubilee Year. Information is provided here on four holy or religious places across the Diocese that I have designated as sacred places for the Jubilee Year. Also included is a calendar of different Jubilee events taking place throughout 2025.
The faithful, as pilgrims of hope, will be able to obtain a Jubilee Indulgence, granted by the Holy Father, if they undertake a pious pilgrimage individually or in a group to the Cathedral or one of the other sacred places designated here; when this is combined with celebration
of the Holy Mass or a celebration of the Word of God, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Via Crucis, the Marian Rosary or a penitential celebration with confession. I hope you find this passport to pilgrimage a useful aid to your spiritual life and I wish you a blessed and fruitful Jubilee Year.
Jubilee Events Calendar for 2025
On Saturday 28 December 2024 Bishop Ralph celebrated Holy Mass at 12.30pm for the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year with diocesan clergy, ecumenical and civic guests.
On Saturday 15 March 2025, at the OVO Arena, Wembley young people will gather for Flame 2025 with the theme 'Fan the Flame of Hope.' See https://cymfed.org.uk/flame/
Jubilee of Priests and People
The Chrism Mass will take place at St. Marie's Cathedral on Wednesday 16 April 2025 at 11.00am. The Bishop will bless the oils to be used in the sacraments in the Jubilee Year.
With the Bishop, Priests, Deacons, Religious and lay faithful participating together, the Chrism Mass is a symbol of the unity of the people of God.
Jubilee of People with Disabilities
There will be a Mass with anointing to celebrate the Jubilee of people with disabilities on Saturday 31 May 2025, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at 12 noon at the Shrine of Our Lady of Doncaster, at St. Peter-in-Chains Church. Accessibility information can be found here: www.stpetersdoncaster.co.uk/about-5
Jubilee of Marian Spirituality
There will be a Mass to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Doncaster on Wednesday 4
June 2025 at 12 noon at St Peter-in-Chains, Doncaster.
Trinity Sunday
Mass will be celebrated at Roche Abbey, Sunday 15 June 2025 at 11.00am, with free access on the day to this English Heritage site.
For access info see: https://www.englishheritage.org.uk/visit/places/roche-abbey/
access/
Eucharistic Procession from Saint Marie's Cathedral
The Corpus Christi procession on Sunday 22 June 2025 will bring people to the centre of Sheffield to share their faith and praise the Body
and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Everyone is invited to gather outside of St. Marie's Cathedral at 3.00 pm.
Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The Diocesan Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place 27 June to 3 July 2025.
Padley Pilgrimage and Mass
People are invited to gather at Grindleford Station on Sunday 6 July 2025 at 3.00pm to join the procession to Padley Chapel and Mass, to remember the Padley Martyrs.
Annual Hallam African Catholic Community Mass
The Hallam African Catholic Community will gather to celebrate Mass at 2.00pm followed by a picnic at the Carmelite Monastery, Kirk Edge, on Sunday 20 July 2025
(venue subject to confirmation.)
Jubilee of all Youth
Are you 14 to 25 years old? Join us in Rome for a pilgrimage from 28 July to 4
August 2025. Register your interest with your School Chaplain or contact the Diocesan Director of Youth.
Jubilee of Altar Servers
The Guild of St Stephen invites all Altar Servers with their family and friends to Holy Rood Church, Barnsley, on Saturday 20 September 2025 at 10.30am, for a Mass of thanksgiving for all Altar Servers. Bring your Alb and Guild of St. Stephen Medal if enrolled.
Jubilee of Volunteers
On Saturday 15 November 2025, World Day of the Poor, there will be a Mass for all who voluntarily gift their time and charisms to serve others in need, at Immaculate Conception in Rotherham, at 11.00am, followed by refreshments.
Jubilee of Schools
Children in Catholic Primary Schools will experience a pilgrim walk in their local community, perhaps to the parish church or another place of interest. Based on that experience they will be asked to respond creatively to the theme 'Pilgrims of Hope', whether as visual art, poetry, prose or sculpture. The children's work can be displayed in the school or the parish church. Selected work from each School will be curated and
exhibited at sites in the Diocese, and an overall winner selected as best expressing the theme of 'Pilgrims of Hope.'
For further Information:-
Diocese of Hallam Jubilee 2025 https://hallam-diocese.com/jubilee-2025
The Vatican: https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
Catholic Bishops' Conference for England and Wales https://www.cbcew.org.uk/jubilee-2025/
THE HOLY FATHER’S JUBILEE PRAYER
Father in heaven- may the faith you have given us in your Son, Jesus Christ, our brother and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of Heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
