Welcome Jubilarians and Pilgrims of Hope!
The Year of Jubilee 2025 in our Diocese got off to a great start with the official opening of the year by Bishop Stephen on 29 December and with the opening of the Holy Doors in the Cathedral Church of St Mary, Newcastle, and St Joseph’s in Hartlepool.
Individuals and groups have started to come to our two designated Jubilee Churches, as Pilgrims of Hope, entering through the Holy Doors. Our hope is many people from across our Diocese will also organise visits to the Jubilee Churches this year, perhaps combined with their own organised pilgrimage or simply as a time to rest and spend time with the Lord.
We were delighted to host a webinar in January entitled, ‘Pilgrimage: Hearts in the Search of God.’ The main guest speaker was Dr Phil McCarthy, project lead for Hearts in Search of God: Pilgrim Ways. Phil spoke about his own experience of pilgrimage over the years as one which was greatly humbling, especially in terms of the welcome received along the way and the meeting and sharing with others. The webinar began with an overview of the fascinating history and significance of pilgrimage. Inspiring examples of the symbolic and fruitful experience of pilgrimage were shared by Fr Mark Milward and sixth form students, Anne and Georgina, from St Anthony Girls’ Catholic Academy, Sunderland. Fr Mark, an experienced pilgrim, shared his perspective that as you walk the contours of the geography of the earth – the ups and the downs, the stunning vistas and the more challenging weather conditions – often mirror our spiritual relationship with God and what is going on in our lives at that time. The webinar is available online to watch here.
As we journey through this year of Jubilee, we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. As Catholics our hope is in the Lord who is always at work in our lives. One of the keys to our faith journey is being able to recognise God’s daily call and to discern God’s will when we are making decisions. Our new formation programme Adventurous Accompaniment is designed to help us become better at walking with others, supporting them to see God at work. Over a series of sessions, you will explore how to accompany others whether it is informally while out talking with your neighbour or over a sustained relationship with family and friends. The ‘Adventure’ of this formation is that God is the one leading the way. Find out more and book on Adventurous Accompaniment here.
Our Diocese is privileged to be welcoming the Visitation of the Relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial beatified by Pope Francis, on 26 – 30 March. This will be the final visit before Carlo’s canonisation in April. Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager born in 1991, is celebrated for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and his innovative use of technology to share his faith. Known for creating a website documenting Eucharistic miracles, Carlo’s life was a testament to his belief in the ‘highway to heaven.‘ Despite his battle with leukaemia, which claimed his life at the age of 15 in 2006, his legacy continues to inspire many. We hope the visitation will offer a unique opportunity for the faithful to deepen their connection to Carlo’s inspiring life and devotion. The relics will be stopping off at Cardinal Hume School in Low Fell, Gateshead, on Saturday 29 March where everyone is invited to visit. More details can be found here.
Various groups, teams and demographics across our diocese will be celebrating their designated Jubilee Day with others both nationally and internationally. Some are offering their Message of Hope for this Jubilee year, which can be found on the DHN Jubilee website. Throughout the year, we are inviting volunteers to share about what they do and share their Messages of Hope. You may consider inviting us to your parish or community to assist you with this. What would be your Message of Hope in this Year of Jubilee?
The Year of Jubilee was officially launched in schools on 24 January. Please read more about how schools are getting involved under the Department of Education section.
We’re all invited into an encounter with Jesus Christ, as his disciples of mercy, forgiveness, and social action, and to celebrate our communities. It’s a chance to envision a better future, a future of hope and faith where mercy guides our actions. It’s a time for forgiveness and reconciliation within our communities. We can take action to address injustices, support the vulnerable, and work towards a more equitable society.
Communities are starting to organise their Year of Jubilee celebrations, assisted by our Getting Started Guide, Jubilee Calendar and What’s On Events. To learn more about Jubilees, the Jubilee Companion booklet is available. We have produced a set of information leaflets about Pilgrimages, Social Action and Formation to help people navigate some of the Jubilee themes. For anyone wanting to visit one of the Jubilee Churches, as a group or on their own, there’s an information leaflet for that too. Come and be a Pilgrim, receive a Jubilee indulgence, walk the prayer pilgrimage around the church, or simply have a coffee and conversation with friends.
Would your community commit to making a social action pledge? They’re probably already involved in social action in some way or another but are there any other ways to help make a difference to your local community or in the world? Read about social action in Scripture and for suggestions about how to get involved. Register your pledge and receive a certificate signed by Bishop Stephen.
So, we invite and encourage you to be a Pilgrim of Hope in this Holy Year. Whether you participate in an organised event, or your community celebrates in its own way (and we hope they do!) we want to hear from you – please share your story with us and help inspire others.
Please visit the diocesan Year of Jubilee page: https://bit.ly/DHNjubilee2025 for all the latest news, information and events or email the Diocesan Jubilee team at: jubilee2025@diocesehn.org.uk.
May the Year of Jubilee 2025 be a Beacon of Hope.
