Jubilee 2025: Pilgrimage of Hope
2025 is the Jubilee Holy Year, the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord, an “event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church.” The concept of “Jubilee” has its origins in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming home. Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope.”
This web page can offer Catholics resources and ideas for celebrating the 2025 Jubilee locally, nationally, or by making a special pilgrimage to Rome. The site is regularly updated with the latest news, so be sure to check back regularly.
Jubilee Celebration Opportunities
Archbishop Hartmayer celebrated Mass on December 29, 2024, to officially begin the Jubilee Holy Year. In his homily address Archbishop Hartmayer stated, “The goal of a Jubilee Year is to inspire, and encourage holiness of life, and therefore to strengthen the churches witness to God’s loving mercy in and for the world.”
The Archbishop has designated numerous pilgrimage sites in the archdiocese. These Pilgrimage sites do not have a Holy Door, nonetheless they been designated as a place where the people of God can pilgrim to reflect and obtain plenary indulgence satisfying the ordinary requirements of the Church.
In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Archbishop Hartmayer has designated these churches to be pilgrimage sites:
- Mary Our Queen Catholic Church in Peachtree Corners, Main Pilgrimage Site
- Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sharon
- Saint Matthew Catholic Church in Tyrone
- Our Lady of the Mountains in Jasper
- Saint Paul the Apostle in Cleveland
- Saint Brendan the Navigator in Cumming
These pilgrimage sites will be open from the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Sunday February 2, 2025, to the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord on Tuesday January 6, 2026. Even though there are not “Holy Doors” at these sites there will be “Pilgrim Doors”, so all pilgrims are invited to enter through them.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released a Jubilee Information Sheet that includes helpful information to assist in preparation for and participation in the Jubilee year. Additionally, the USCCB has designated the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC as a Pilgrimage Site. The Pilgrimage site does not have a Holy Door, nonetheless it has been designated as a place where the people of God can pilgrim to reflect and obtain plenary indulgence satisfying the ordinary requirements of the Church.
You can find all information provided by the USCCB on their Jubilee Website at www.usccb.org/jubilee2025
Individuals and parish groups are welcome to coordinate pilgrimages to Rome for the Jubilee celebrations. Pilgrims may come to Rome at any time throughout 2025 to celebrate the Jubilee, or they can choose to coordinate a visit in conjunction with one of the particular Jubilee events on the calendar.
If you are planning a pilgrimage to Rome, please contact USCCB’s Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican, www.pnac.org/visitorsoffice/about-the-visitors-office/. They will be able to assist you in coordination and communication with the Vatican offices.
You should also make sure your group is officially registered. For official registration of pilgrimages and large groups from diocese or parishes, point persons should contact pilgrim@jubilaeum2025.va, with the dates of your desired visit and number of pilgrims attending and the staff from the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization will respond accordingly. Let them know you are also working with the USCCB’s Office for Unites States Visitors.
It is important to note that the only Official Holy Doors are in Rome.
The Holy Doors are located at the 4 major Basilicas in the City of Rome:
- Basilica of Saint Peter
- Basilica of Mary Major
- Basilica of Saint John Lateran
- Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
In addition to them, there is a Holy Door at Rebibbia Prison in Rome.
The official Vatican Website for the Jubilee year can be found at www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
Individuals, families and small groups can make a pilgrimage throughout the year to these pilgrimage sites to obtain a plenary indulgence during this Jubilee Year. This will grant remission of temporal consequences for sin. The requirements for the grace of plenary indulgence are the ordinary established by the Catholic Church:
- Visit to the Pilgrimage site
- An Act of Mercy or Penance
- Confession prior to visit the pilgrimage site
- Reception of Holy Communion at the pilgrimage site or at the local parish before or after the visit to the pilgrimage site
- Pray for the intentions of His Holiness Pope FRANCIS at the pilgrimage site
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Since there is only one priest at the pilgrimage sites, no confessions will be available for pilgrims. We strongly encourage the people to confession before the pilgrimage.
- Large groups must have a Priest or Deacon accompany them during their pilgrimage.
- If the large group wants to have Mass at the pilgrimage site, other than the times offered or in a different language, please contact the pilgrimage site in advance to schedule.
- Please arrange your visit in advance to be sure that they can accommodate you, if you wish to visit at a time not listed.
General Information
Additional Opportunities during the Jubilee Year
- Eucharistic Procession at St. Peter Chanel Parish
- Year of Mission – National Eucharistic Revival
- Walk with One Initiative
- Carlo Acutis – Canonization Mass/Celebration
More information will be arriving here soon. Check back often.
Official Prayer of the Jubilee
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.
