Jubilee Year of Hope

By Helena Goldsmith, Program Manager, Leading in Faith, Catholic Mission and Identity, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS).

On the evening of 24 December 2024, Pope Francis officially inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope by opening the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica during the Christmas Mass (Castellano Lubov 2024). ‘Tonight, the door of hope has opened wide to the world’, the Pope proclaimed, reminding the faithful that God speaks personally to each of us: ‘There is hope also for you!’ (Francis 2024).

In his homily, Pope Francis invited everyone to rediscover the joy of the Lord and embrace the mission to transform our world so that this year may truly be a time of jubilation (Francis 2024).

Pilgrims of hope

The theme of the Jubilee Year is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ which resonates deeply with the MACS 2030 purpose to form lives of faith, hope and love in the light of Jesus Christ (MACS 2023).

By intertwining the Jubilee Year’s emphasis on pilgrimage with MACS' mission, we can see a shared vision: a transformative journey where individuals and school communities grow in their trust in God, strive for a life filled with meaning, and become beacons of hope for others.

Through the lens of hope, the Jubilee Year calls all of us in MACS schools and offices to embark on this pilgrimage as a spiritual and communal experience. Similarly, MACS’ mission seeks to nurture hope by cultivating a faith-filled education that illuminates Christ's love and inspires learners to embrace their calling as hopeful disciples, shaping the world with compassion, justice and grace.

Celebrating the Jubilee Year

Jubilee years are marked by pilgrimage, reconciliation, formation and prayer. The Catholic Church has created many opportunities for participation during this holy year.

In Melbourne, the Archdiocese has designated 13 churches and shrines as ‘Pilgrim Places’, with St Patrick’s Cathedral serving as the principal location. Archbishop Peter A Comensoli has encouraged all to engage in local pilgrimages to Pilgrim Places (CAM 2024).

The Archdiocese has published a Jubilee 2025 Resource Pack for Parishes for celebrating the Jubilee Year in parishes, families and schools.

MACS is implementing a Jubilee Year program that includes school resources, pilgrimages, the Jubilee Year Ambassador Program, and culminating in the Australian Catholic Youth Festival from 30 November to 2 December.

Schools are encouraged to integrate the Jubilee Year theme – Pilgrims of Hope – into their activities, ensuring full participation in this sacred celebration. Information and updates will be available on the MACS Jubilee Year website, which will be launched next week.

Working together in mission

Embracing the shared mission of the Church and schools to foster faith, hope and love, schools can deepen their engagement with parish communities during the Jubilee Year in many ways. Some ideas include:

• arranging group pilgrimages to designated Pilgrim Places, fostering a shared experience of faith among students and staff
• holding ‘mini pilgrimages’ on school grounds or nearby churches for younger students, connecting them to the broader Jubilee Year
• collaborating with parishes to arrange special times for the sacrament of Reconciliation for students, families and staff
• including reconciliation themes in school liturgies and reflection days
• deepening the prayer life in schools by hosting school–parish joint prayer services or liturgies inspired by the Jubilee Year theme
• establishing ‘prayer partnerships’ between school and parish groups, such as prayer intentions exchanged between students and parishioners
• sharing resources through school newsletters, assemblies and parish bulletins to ensure they reach families and parishioners
• partnering with parishes to run workshops or retreats for students, parents and parishioners centred on the Jubilee themes of hope, pilgrimage and faith
• inviting parish priests to address school assemblies or lead discussions
• connecting with parish communities to coordinate events and outreach, Jubilee Ambassadors can act as a bridge between schools and parishes
• collaborating with parishes to prepare for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival through shared events, reflections and formation opportunities.

A reflection for the start of the Jubilee Year

As the Jubilee Year begins, Pope Francis has encouraged everyone to reflect on how they can bring light, hope and kindness into the lives of others:

• How can I open a window of light in my environment and in my relationships?
• Where can I be a glimmer of light that let’s God’s love pass through?
• What practical actions can I do today, this term, this year in my school, home, world? (2025).

The Jubilee Year of 2025 offers a profound opportunity for renewal, unity and hope. Let us step forward as pilgrims of hope, embracing God’s call to transform our world with love and compassion.

We ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for us as we embark on this sacred journey in MACS schools and offices:

Mary, star that leads to Jesus, help us to be shining witnesses of the Father’s love for everyone (Francis 2025).

References

Castellano Lubov, D 2024, ‘Pope Francis opens Holy Door inaugurating 2025 Jubilee’, Vatican News, The Holy See, accessed 7 January 2025 www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-opens-holy-door-ushering-in-the-jubilee-of-hope.html.

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne (CAM), ‘Hope does not disappoint: Archdiocese of Melbourne announces local pilgrim places for Jubilee 2025’, Melbourne Catholic, East Melbourne, accessed 7 January 2025 https://melbournecatholic.org/news/hope-does-not-disappoint-archdiocese-of-melbourne-announces-local-pilgrim-places-for-jubilee-2025.

Francis (Pope) 2025, ‘Angelus’, 5 January 2025, The Holy See, accessed 13 December 2025 www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2025/documents/20250105-angelus.html.

Francis (Pope) 2024, ‘Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord: Homily of the Holy Father Francis’, 24 December 2024, The Holy See, accessed 7 January 2025 www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2024/documents/20241224-omelia-natale.html.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) 2023, MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World, MACS, East Melbourne, accessed 13 January 2025 www.macs.vic.edu.au/MelbourneArchdioceseCatholicSchools/media/About-Us/Documentation/MACS-2030-Strategic-Plan.pdf.

Image: Pope Francis pushes open the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on 24 December 2024, inaugurating the Holy Year 2025

Image source: CNS/Cristian Gennari