January 6, 2025
Dear Parents, Students and Staff,
As you enter our schools, you may have noticed the new Logo representing the Jubilee Year of 2025 theme. The Jubilee Year 2025, themed “Pilgrims of Hope,” is a significant period dedicated to spiritual renewal, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the Catholic Church. The Jubilee year is celebrated every 25 years.
The Jubilee allows the faithful to deepen their faith and seek God’s mercy. A special prayer written by Pope Francis will be provided to the students and families to celebrate this year faithfully. Parents can find Pope Jubilee’s Prayer translated into many languages on the Prayer website and the Prayer link.
Here are a few highlights of the Jubilee Year:
Opening of Holy Doors: Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24, 2024, signaling the commencement of the Jubilee year. This act symbolizes the offering of God’s mercy to all.
- Theme – “Pilgrims of Hope”: This theme emphasizes the Church’s mission to promote peace and Hope in a world facing climate change and conflicts.
- Spiritual Renewal: The Jubilee is a time for Catholics to engage in pilgrimage, prayer, and acts of charity. Passing through a Holy Door is a profound act symbolizing the journey towards spiritual renewal and conversion.
- Indulgences: During the Jubilee, the Church grants special indulgences through specific spiritual practices, including confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the Pope’s intentions.
- Participation: While many events are centered in Rome, dioceses around the world will organize local celebrations, allowing all faithful to participate in the Jubilee’s graces.
The Jubilee Year 2025 presents a unique opportunity for parents and Catholic educators to nurture your children’s faith. This year we will engage in:
- Educational Activities: To teach your children about the significance of the Jubilee, its history, and its spiritual importance.
- Pilgrimage: We will organize a pilgrimage to our local cathedral or designated Church with a Holy Door to have a meaningful experience of faith and unity.
- Acts of Charity: We will participate in charitable activities, embodying the Jubilee’s call for compassion and service to others.
- Prayer and Reflection: Prayers will occur to focus on the themes of Hope and reconciliation.
- The Jubilee Logo: As provided by the Logo for the 2025 Jubilee, the Logo shows four stylized figures representing all of humanity, coming from the four corners of the earth. They embrace each other to indicate that solidarity should unite all people. The figure at the front is holding onto the cross. It is not only the sign of faith that the lead figure embraces but also of Hope, which can never be abandoned because we always need Hope, especially in our moments of greatest need. Rough waves under the figures symbolize that life’s pilgrimage does not always go smoothly in calm waters. Often, the circumstances of daily life and events in the broader world require a greater call to hope. That’s why we should pay special attention to the lower part of the cross, which has been elongated and turned into the shape of an anchor that is let down into the waves. The anchor is well-known as a symbol of Hope. The ‘anchor of hope’ refers to the reserve anchor used by vessels involved in emergency manoeuvres to stabilize the ship during storms. It is worth noting that the image illustrates the pilgrim’s journey not as an individual undertaking but rather as something communal, marked by an increasing dynamism leading one ever closer to the cross. The cross in the Logo is by no means static, but it is also dynamic. It bends down towards humanity, not leaving humans alone but stretching out to them to offer the certainty of its presence and the security of Hope. At the bottom of the Logo is the motto of the 2025 Jubilee Year: Pilgrims in Hope, represented in green letters.
Engaging in these activities can help us connect with the Jubilee celebrations and deepen our understanding and practice of our Catholic faith during this special year. We look forward to the year ahead as we all learn to be “Pilgrims of Hope.”
May you and your families be blessed during this Jubilee Year!