Jubilee 2025 is here! Aiming at being there for the opening of the Holy Door at our Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul, Volunteer Dan, our devoted driver, with five Residents and two Little Sisters, set out to join Archbishop Nelson Perez for the Opening of the Jubilee Year for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
One of the Residents participating was Barbara Mahler who is new to Philadelphia and who kindly consented to write up the fruits of her research and her impressions of this momentous ecclesial event. Here is her account:
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. Psalm 118:24 (NABRE)
I couldn’t help but recall the words of Psalm 118:24… “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it and be glad,” as I stood among the worshippers in God’s green cathedral under a beautiful blue sky with the sun shining over us on Sunday, December 29, 2024, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,as the Archdiocese of Philadelphia embarked on their celebration of the “Opening of the Jubilee Year 2025.”
Unlike the previous rainy and dreary day, this day was magnificent. The sun shone over us as we witnessed the clergy procession and the Jubilee 2025 Bull of Indiction: “Spes Non Confundit” was read. “Hope does not disappoint.” Taking its message from Romans (5:5) it reassures us that God’s love is always with us no matter our struggles.
For me, the procession of the clergy and the Introductory Rites that ensued spoke to the renewal of hope in the Lord beginning with the words of the Official Hymn for the 2025 Jubilee:
“Like a flame my hope is burning, may my song arise to you:
Source of life that has no ending, on life’s path I trust in you.”
As the clergy processed into the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and the Shrine of Saint Katherine Drexel I couldn’t help but reflect that Jesus’ gift of the Eucharist has always been and will continue to be the essence of our faith as Catholics.
Important events are always anticipated – planned down to each minute in detail and Jubilee 2025 is no different.
In February 2022 Pope Francis wrote to the Dicastery for Evangelization “to entrust it with preparing and celebrating the Jubilee of 2025, and Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the pro-prefect announced a year of preparation for the Jubilee including an 8-volume series titled Notes of Prayer.” (Francis, 2022).
Pope Francis wrote: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to 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…”(Francis, 2022).
The planning was heightened by a contest to design the official logo for the 2025 Jubilee that opened on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, and closed on Friday, May 20, 2022. Archbishop Fisichella announced that there were 294 entries from 48 countries and that participants ranged in age from six to 83 years old.
“In fact, many hand-drawn designs were received from children from all over the world, and it was really moving to go through these drawings which were the fruit of imagination and simple faith.” (Vatican News, 2022).
The Pontifical Council chose the design that “best communicated the motto, ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ Designed by the winner, Italian Artist Giacomo Travisani, the “official logo was presented at the end of June 2022.” (Catholic News Agency, 2022).
In describing his design Giacomo Travisani “reflected on how he had imagined all people moving forward together, able to push ahead ‘thanks to the wind of Hope that is the Cross of Christ and Christ himself.’”. (Vatican News, 2022).
Travisani’s “wind of hope” (Catholic News Agency, 2022) invokes inspiration as does the wavy line representing the challenges and uncertainties of life’s journey. The multiple figures represent humanity coming together from all parts of the world; solidarity and brotherhood among all people are brilliantly illustrated. The Jubilee 2025 theme: “Pilgrims of Hope” resonates as an extension of the cross signifying hope as an ever-present anchor during the storms of life.
In responding to Our Holy Father’s February 2022 letter announcing the Jubilee 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that Pope Francis asked that the year 2024 be dedicated to a “great symphony of prayer” as the Church prepared for the Jubilee of 2025. (Francis, 2022).
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Pope Francis officially proclaimed the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025 with the public reading and delivery of the papal document – Spes Non Confundit thus laying out its foundation and its theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” (Vatican News, 2022).
Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli, S.T.D., S.S.L., D.D Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey explains the background of Jubilee Years stating that the “Book of Leviticus talks about sanctifying the 50th year as a special year of prayer, dedication and release to God and that the basis of the Jubilee is very theological, calling us to acknowledge God in all things – Creator, Owner, and Protector.” (Serratelli, 2024)
References
- Catholic News Agency (June 2022) Winning-2025 Jubilee Year Logo Unveiled After Global Competition. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251661/winning-2025-jubilee-year-logo-unveiled-after-global-competition
Francis. (2022). - Letter of the Holy Father Francis to H.E. Msgr. Rino Fisichella for Jubilee 2025. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2022/documents/20220211-fisichella-giubileo2025.html
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey (2024). Bishop Serratelli Interview with Fr.Manning https://rcdop.org/jubilee-2025-rcdop?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3RGTCtxmzFR8HCVQzZlLOrBGTkEz7R9mXpkh1gvmBbuMg1x8mpc1_p-WE_aem_2p_NiZAwvVQT_4n8ixADEQ
- Vatican News (June, 2022). Official Logo of Jubilee Year Unveiled. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-06/official-logo-of-jubilee-year-unveiled.html
