St Francis Newsletter

Catholic Identity

PRAYER

 JUBILEE 2025 PRAYER

The official prayer for Jubilee 2025 petitions God to reawaken faith, spread joy and peace and transform us through the Grace of the Jubilee Year so that we may share the Gospel and renew our Church. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUBILEE YEAR 2025

In May 2024, Pope Francis promulgated the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, calling us to be Pilgrims of Hope:

Opening of the Jubilee Door

Pope Francis inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope on Christmas Eve, (24 December 2024) when he opened the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica. When he closes this door on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (January 6, 2026), the Jubilee Year will officially end.  In the Diocese of Sandhurst, with permission from Pope Francis, Bishop Shane opened the Holy Door of Sacred Heart Cathedral on Palm Sunday (24 March 2024), marking the beginning of the Diocese of Sandhurst's Jubilee Year, celebrating 150 years since the Diocese was established.  The Holy Door at Sacred Heart Cathedral will remain 'open' throughout the Universal Church's Jubilee Year 2025.

What is a Jubilee Year? A Jubilee Year is a sacred year of prayer and pilgrimage during which we are called to seek forgiveness and strengthen our relationships with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The concept of a Jubilee has ancient Jewish origins. In the Bible, it was a time when land was rested, people could travel over borders, debts were waivered and slaves were freed. Today, forgiveness and renewal remain key themes of a Jubilee.The Church has been celebrating Jubilee Years since 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII declared one to mark 1300 years since the birth of Christ.   Traditionally in a Jubilee, the Church offers pilgrims special opportunities for reconciliation, indulgences, prayer and reception of the sacraments in their local communities, in order to deepen their relationship with God.

What is the purpose of a Jubilee Year? Pope Francis wants this Jubilee to be a Holy Year underpinned by a "never-fading hope in God”; which will help us to recover “the confident trust" we require in the Church, in society, in our personal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.”

PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage is a fundamental element of every Jubilee event.  When we set out on a personal journey grounded in prayer, the road towards renewal opens before us and we change not only our location, but ourselves. Pope Francis says the goal of a pilgrimage is an encounter with Jesus, and we must prepare, pray and listen to Jesus as we journey. A pilgrimage must have:

  • a journey to a specific destination, spiritual and/or physical; 
  • authentic engagement with ourselves and others; and
  • sacred Encounter

Pilgrimage Sites in the Sandhurst Diocese In his Letter, 'Hope Doesn't Disappoint', Pope Francis hopes the Jubilee will bring opportunities for all of us to experience deeply the Love of God.  He invites us to become "Pilgrims of Hope" by embarking on a pilgrimage or taking part in Jubilee events.   So that we may become "Pilgrims of Hope" in our local Church, Bishop Shane has nominated five pilgrimage sites:

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo The heart of our Diocese.  Sacred Heart Cathedral is one of Australia’s most breathtaking and historically significant churches, offering a warm invitation to all who seek spiritual enrichment and architectural wonder. Completed in stages between 1897 and 1977, this Gothic Revival masterpiece is a testament to the devotion of the Bendigo community and the faith and vision of its founders.

Grave of Rev. Dr Henry Backhaus, St Kilian's Church Grounds, Bendigo Rev. Henry Backhaus was the first priest to serve in the Bendigo goldfields and celebrated the first Mass on the banks of the Bendigo Creek on 2 May 1852. A dedicated priest and a practical visionary, Fr Backhaus laid both spiritual and financial foundations that continue to support the Church today.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Indigenous Garden and History Trail, St John the Baptist Church Grounds, Numurkah Mary MacKillop is Australia’s first Saint.  A co-founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, she founded the first St Joseph’s School in Victoria and the first school in Numurkah in 1890. In Decmember 2024, Numurkah parishioners celebrated the opening of an indigenous garden and history trail dedicated to the memory of Mary MacKillop and the Josephite Sisters who have served their community so well. 

Grave of Rev. George Galen, St Patrik's Church, Wangaratta 

A pilgrimage to the grave of Rev. George Galen, located inside St Patrick’s Church, offers a profound spiritual journey into the heritage of north-east Victoria.  As a pioneer priest who devoted his life to serving in this once remote and rugged region, Rev. Galen’s legacy lives on in the hearts of the local community.

The Wahgunyah Mass Tree, WahgunyahA majestic 600-year-old river red gum near the banks of the Murray River, it marks the site of the first Catholic Mass in the area celebrated in 1869 by Rev. Dean William Tierney from the Beechworth Mission. The tree is at the start of a scenic walking track along the beautiful Murray River, offering a creation-immersed opportunity for prayer and reflection as you walk in the footsteps of pioneers of our Diocese.

 

SHROVE TUESDAY & ASH WEDNESDAY

Tuesday 4th March 2025 marks ‘Shrove Tuesday’ and pancake day. Pancakes are associated with Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding Lent, because they are a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent.  We will celebrate the beginning of LENT with pancakes for the students.

 

Ash Wednesday (5th March) marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. We will celebrate the day with a liturgy at St Mary’s Church on Wednesday morning.

 

 

St Mary's Parish Bulletin