Jubilee Year of Hope
Pope Francis has declared 2025 the Jubilee Year of Hope
The Holy Father has said that this is an "event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church." He wrote that it is to be “planned and celebrated with deep faith, lively hope and active charity”.
Please find below the news of local events in our Diocese of Cork and Ross...
Altars of repose
There will be a special walking Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to seven Cork City Churches on Holy Thursday Evening 17 April led by Bishop Fintan
This will begin after the 7.30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper in The Cathedral with a brief period of adoration at the altar of repose.
The pilgrim walk will then proceed to St Mary's on Pope’s Quay, Holy Trinity on Fr. Mathew Quay, St. Finbarr’s South on Dunbar St., St Augustine's on Washington Street, St Francis Church on Liberty Street and on to Ss Peter and Paul's. The pilgrimage will finish with Night Prayer at 10pm.
People are also welcome to make their own pilgrimage starting at any of the churches on the pilgrim route.
This is a special way to mark the Jubilee year and as part of this there will be a plenary indulgence granted to those who participate in the Night Prayer in Ss Peter and Paul's at 10pm, whilst meeting the necessary conditions.
These are that a person go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, perform an act of charity and pray for the Pope’s intentions. The indulgence can be applied to the souls in Purgatory.
The Diocese of Cork and Ross has announced plans to bring a group of young adults to Rome to join with young people from across the world in this Jubilee Year.
Over 30 people attended the Diocese of Cork and Ross’ Jubilee of Youth pilgrimage launch. The pilgrimage will take place in Rome from the 28th July to the 4th August.
During the launch, youth leaders Fr. Marius O’Reilly, Fr. Ronan Sheehan, Sheila Kelleher, and Mary-Claire Scanlon shared insights on the significance of a Jubilee Year, the logistics of the pilgrimage, and fundraising plans.
Sarah Ryan-Purcell, who travelled to World Youth Day in 2023, also gave a personal testimony about her experience as a pilgrim at that event.
Spaces are limited and filling up fast; for more details and to book in, contact Sheila at
At the launch of the Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage to Rome
Bishop Fintan Gavin blessed candlesOn Sunday 2 February the Diocese of Cork and Ross marked a special occasion as religious women and men joined Bishop Fintan at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne to celebrate the Diocesan Jubilee of Consecrated Life
Members of religious communities, along with people from across the Diocese, also participated in the event virtually through the Cathedral’s livestream.
The jubilee year focuses on the theme of hope, a message central to the celebration. It was celebrated on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – the day when candles are blessed at Mass.
In his homily, Bishop Fintan reflected on the various forms of darkness that individuals may face in life - loneliness, grief, isolation, and a sense of loss of direction or meaning.
You are welcome to join Bishop Fintan as he gathers with all the members of Religious Communities throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross to celebrate our Diocesan Jubilee of Consecrated Life
This will take place during the Mass on
Sunday 2 February 2025
11:30am
Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne
All are welcome to this special diocesan celebration.
There are striking similarities between the logo for the Jubilee of Hope and our Diocesan logo for the Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment.
Logos for the 'Jubilee of Hope' andthe 'Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment'
Both logos use the image of the People of God.
Jubilee of Hope launched at Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne
The inclement weather did not dampen the spirits of those gathered for the diocesan launch of the Jubilee of Hope at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne on Sunday, January 5th. Bishop Fintan, in solidarity with Pope Francis, and bishops worldwide, launched the Jubilee and called on the faithful to become "messengers of hope" in a troubled world.
In his homily, Bishop Fintan urged the faithful to renew their faith, rekindle their hope, and deepen their love for God and one another. He encouraged each one to become a "Pilgrim of Hope," bringing hope to those in need in our families, Parishes and Families of Parishes, and to the wider community.
“It is providential," said Bishop Fintan, "that our Year of Prayer, Listening, and Discernment which began last September, coincides with the Jubilee of Hope." He noted that both initiatives are rooted in the foundational hope brought by faith in Jesus, urging the faithful to embark on this year with hearts open to God’s direction.
Luan, Beatriz, Jessica, Monaliza, Valdenir(members of the Brazilian Community) with Bishop Fintan after the Jubilee Mass.
The Jubilee Year will be launched at the North Cathedral
(image by Paul O'Flynn)
Cork's Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne is the location for the launch of the Jubilee Year in the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
Bishop Fintan Gavin will be the principal celebrant at Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday Jan 5th at 11.30am.
The Jubilee Year was inaugurated by Pope Francis in Rome on Christmas Eve when he opened the Holy Door for the year.
Pope Francis has announced that the theme for the Jubilee Year is Hope.
"During the Holy Year," the Pope has prayed, "may the light of Christian hope illumine every man and woman, as a message of God’s love addressed to all! And may the Church bear faithful witness to this message in every part of the world!"
Each diocese around the world will host its own Jubilee Year events during the year.
Celebrating the Jubilee Year in the Diocese of Cork and Ross
The Diocese of Cork and Ross joins the universal Church in celebrating the Jubilee Year 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope."
Rooted in the ancient biblical tradition of jubilees, this sacred year invites all Catholics to a time of pilgrimage, prayer, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal.
The Jubilee Year is a unique moment of grace in the life of the Church, occurring every 25 years. It is a time for the faithful to come together in unity, to reflect on God’s mercy, and to deepen our commitment to living as witnesses of Christ’s hope in the world.
What Does the Jubilee Year Mean for Us?
Pilgrims at Gougane Barra for the annual Gougane Sunday MassPhoto: Sheila Kelleher | Diocese of Cork and Ross
The Logo shows four stylized figures to indicate all of humanity from the four corners of the earth. They are each embracing another, indicating the solidarity and brotherhood that must unite peoples.
It should be noted that the first figure is clinging to the cross. The underlying waves are choppy to indicate that the pilgrimage of life is not always on calm waters. Oftentimes personal circumstances and world events call for a greater sense of hope. This is why the lower part of the Cross is elongated turning into an anchor, which dominates the movement of the waves.
As is well known, the anchor has often been used as a metaphor for hope. In fact, in maritime jargon, the hope anchor is the name given to the spare anchor, used by vessels for emergency manoeuvres to stabilize the ship during storms. It should be noted that the image shows how the pilgrim's journey is not individual, but rather communal, with the signs of a growing dynamism that moves more and more toward the Cross.
The Cross is by no means static, but it, too, is dynamic, bending toward and meeting humanity as if not to leave it alone, but rather offering the certainty of its presence and the reassurance of hope.
Finally, the Jubilee 2025 Motto, Peregrinantes in Spem (Pilgrims of Hope) is clearly visible in the colour green.
Jubilee Year 2025 Logo
Jubilee 2025 Logo (as gaeilge)
Year 2025
Jubilee Year of Hope
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April 2025
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February 2025
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January 2025
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December 2024
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