From the Pastor's Desk January 5, 2025

Dear parishioners,

The Jubilee Year 2025 is shaping up to be a very special time for the Catholic Church, offering a wonderful opportunity for grace, reconciliation, and renewal. Drawing on the rich tradition of Jubilees, this upcoming Holy Year invites all of us to deepen our relationship with God and one another.

Historically, the concept of a Jubilee Year comes from biblical roots, emphasizing forgiveness and restoration. The first recorded Jubilee was established by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300, encouraging pilgrims to visit Rome and receive divine mercy. Since then, these years have served as vital moments for spiritual renewal, allowing us to experience God's love in profound ways.

Pope Francis has highlighted that the 2025 Jubilee will focus on the "merciful face of God," echoing the core message of the Gospel. This theme encourages us to reflect on our individual vocations and our roles in spreading love and charity in the world.

The celebration kicks off with the opening of the Holy Door at the Basilica of Saint Peter on December 24, 2024, marking a joyous invitation to enter into this time of grace and reflection. Throughout the year, there will be numerous liturgical events designed to engage the faithful and inspire a journey of renewal.

Blessings,

Fr. Andrew

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.