Camino de Santiago – Way of St James – photo by Burkard Meyendriesch, pexels.com
2025 has been declared a Jubilee year by Pope Francis. The Jubilee year has a long history, beginning in Old Testament times. Then, it was every 70 years that a Jubilee took place. Now, it is every 25 years.
Pope Francis has named the theme of this Jubilee “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The Jubilee is a time of new beginnings, the advent of a new generation, and the opportunity to start fresh — a need that individuals and communities have. One cannot carry yesterday on one’s shoulders forever. There has to be a fresh opportunity for today and tomorrow; thus the Jubilee.
2025 is also the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council; often called by both religious and secular press as “The most significant event of the 20th century.”
The Jubilee year provides an opportunity to reflect on and rediscover the call to be “church for the world” which was to be the work initiated by the Council.
After four years of reflection, study, debate, and mostly prayer, the Council produced a road map for the Church. This road map initiated a rediscovery of the identity of the Church and the role of members of the Church.
It is time to take a fresh look at the Council and see how that map still provides a way for the Church to proclaim the Gospel in an increasingly secular and intolerant world.
I will write a series of reflections on the opportunities the Jubilee and the 60th anniversary of Vatican II to offer a 21st century Church.
Using the coming months to prepare for the anniversary and the Jubilee offers an opportunity to undertake the Jubilee with renewed spirit as Pilgrims of Hope.
Father Stephen Adrian
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