On the evening of Dec. 24, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door to St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the start of the 2025 Jubilee Year.
In July of this year, Cardinal Gibbons is taking a group of kids for the Holy Pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee Year!
In our society today, practicing an active faith life can be difficult for teenagers and even adults because they don’t want to “feel judged.”
The Jubilee Year changes this for so many young people who travel to Rome for a chance to spread their faith with other people just like them.
“It is impactful to truly feel a part of the Catholic Church. We are going to see and feel the power of the church, which is full of young people who are on fire for their faith and want to change the world for Christ,” said Fr. Luke in an email response.
During their 10 days in Rome, Gibbons students will be praying and celebrating our faith with the Pope and other young people from all over. Accompanying this, there will also be moments of prayer, sightseeing, attending talks, and being able to interact with other pilgrim groups.
The Jubilee concept originally comes from the Old Testament. It is found in the Book of Leviticus where Jewish law states that a Jubilee year would happen every 50 years to commemorate freedom for slaves, the forgiveness of sins, and rest.
Unlike Jewish Laws, the Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee Year every 25 years which celebrates deep theological institutions like spiritual renewal.
The 2025 year marks an important Jubilee year in the Catholic Church since it celebrates the 25-year anniversary of the Jubilee Year in 2000, which celebrated the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus. This Jubilee Year was under the reign of Pope John Paul II.
The 2025 Jubilee anniversary is considered “The Year of Hope,” and emphasizes the time for spiritual renewal. Pope Francis invites people all around the world to do a holy pilgrimage to Rome, to unite the Church so people all around can experience God’s grace.
Along with viewing how the Church can unite through prayer, this Jubilee offers mercy and forgiveness to people who never thought they deserved it, but can now be reconciled with Christ. This not only provides an abundance of faith but healing for people truly struggling.
As the Jubilee is coming up this summer, pray for the students in your community who are embarking on this pilgrimage to Rome, and those all over the world. That they may receive the gift of a renewal in spirit through Jesus this year!
