Each week CatholicNews.ie will highlight various elements of the upcoming Universal Jubilee 2025 year. To herald the year, on 29 December, bishops across Ireland will celebrate Mass in their dioceses for the solemn opening of the Holy Year, and thereafter events will be organised locally. In addition, specific jubilee projects will be proposed by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
What is a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee or Holy Year is a special year – called by the Pope every twenty five years – of forgiveness and reconciliation, in which people are invited to deepen their relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The Jubilee 2025 year’s theme is Pilgrims of Hope, when Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can “restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone”. We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God’s creation in which we understand ourselves as “pilgrims on the earth” rather than masters of the world.
This week CatholicNews.ie reports on the Pope’s call to all Catholics to participate in World Rosary Day, on 7 October, the Feast of the Holy Rosary. In his letter to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Holy Father invited the faithful to dedicate the year 2024 to intense prayer as the Church prepares for this event of grace, emphasising the need to petition the Virgin Mary to guide us on this journey.
At 7.00pm in Rome, Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas will lead the Rosary at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, at the revered chapel of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani (Savior of the Roman People). This historic basilica holds deep spiritual significance, making it a fitting place for the Church to offer its collective prayers for the Jubilee.
Here at home, the Bishops of Ireland are inviting all individuals, parishes, groups and families to pray the Rosary at 7pm. In a special way they invite parents and grandparents to use this special opportunity to share the gift and grace of the Rosary with children and young people.
World Rosary Day will mark the first time in history that all Confraternities, together with countless others, unite for a single prayer intention: the spiritual success of the Jubilee of Hope 2025. Pope Francis is asking that we gather in prayer, trusting in the intercession of Our Lady to accompany us on this journey toward hope, renewal, and grace.
How you can participate
To be part of this event, you can register your parish, community, or prayer group at the official website: www.worldrosaryday.com. By registering, you will receive updates and resources to help guide your participation.
To access a prayer resource for World Rosary Day created by the Archdiocese of Armagh please click HERE
To stay informed about events for this Holy Year that will be taking place, both nationally and internationally, and join in on preparing for this important celebration. For more information on Jubilee 2025, download the app HERE
Source: https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/giubileo-2025.html & https://www.armagharchdiocese.org/
