Fourth Sunday of Advent

12-22-2024Pastor's CornerFr. Bob Deehan

Beginning on Christmas Eve, the Catholic Church throughout the world will celebrate a Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee Year. It is one of the great events of the Catholic Church, which is celebrated every 25 years. It calls pilgrims to Rome and invites Catholics everywhere to focus on the beauties of the faith, to strengthen our relationship with the Lord, and to practice more intently the virtues that make us Catholic Christians, especially the virtues of forgiveness, reconciliation, and charity.

The theme of Jubilee Year 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope.” It is meant to be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a climate crisis. As Pope Francis has stated about this Holy Year, "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..." The Jubilee Year will end on January 6, 2026, the Feast of Epiphany. Millions of pilgrims are expected to visit Rome during the Jubilee Year to seek spiritual renewal. As an alternative, there will also be designated shrine churches in various locations in the Archdiocese of Boston for pilgrims to visit. Jubilee Year 2025 events will take place throughout the year here in the Archdiocese and in dioceses around the world, and will focus on specific groups, such as young people, families, priests, and catechists. Included in the spiritual benefits from celebrating the Jubilee Year will be the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence. As information becomes available, we’ll provide particulars about these local opportunities. More general information about the Holy Year can be found at usccb.org/committees/jubilee-2025. If you would like to read the Bull of Indiction from Pope Francis that formally announces the Jubilee Year 2025 and explains its theme, visit: vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/20240509_spes-non-confundit_bolla-giubileo2025.html.