Religious Dimension

Jubilee Year 2025

2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. The theme for this special year is "Pilgrims of Hope."

“During the Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.” Pope Francis

The Jubilee 2025 logo

The most striking part of the logo for this jubilee is the cross: bending towards humanity and forming an anchor, it depicts the cross as something to cling to, especially in rough seas. It is a contemporary ‘riff’ on an old biblical image. The letter to the Hebrews describes the hope we have in Jesus as ‘an anchor of the soul, as sure as it is firm’ (6:19). The cross is not a dead symbol from the past. It is a living sign of God’s unfathomable love, and one that carries us together in pilgrimage.

The word ‘Jubilee’ comes from the Hebrew word for a ram’s horn, which was blown to announce the start of a Jubilee year in the Bible. 

In the Old Testament, the Jubilee Year was a time of renewal and celebration, every fifty years. Debts were cancelled, people could rest, and because crops weren’t planted, even the land was able to rest. 

It was also a time of freedom: prisoners and slaves were freed, and land was given to those who didn’t have any. It was known as the year of the Lord’s favour.  

A Prayer for the New Year.

This new year, like a new born child,

Is placed in our hands

As the old year passes away

The days and weeks and months to come

Are pure gift;

They carry God's blessing.

As a blessing, we welcome them.

Our hope for the year that has been

is that all that was good in it, remain with us

And all that was harmful, be left behind.

Bless us, O God,

And bless the time and seasons yet to come. And fill this new year with your kindness, that we may reflect this in our own spirit to all who pass our way.

Amen

We welcome Fr Bill Ousley back to St Mary's Star of the Sea Parish Sorrento. He will be the Assistant Priest to Fr Angelo.