WelCom February/March 2025
Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope
Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome on the evening of 24 December 2024, thereby officially inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. During his Christmas evening Mass, he reassured us that the Christ Child of Bethlehem offers the world infinite hope and joy.
Due to New Zealand’s summer break over Christmas and January, each diocese here chose a date that best suited their celebrations. The Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North celebrated their Jubilee Year opening days on 28 January and 2 February respectively. Both ceremonies began with a short liturgy and blessing of the people outside before everyone entered through their cathedrals’ main doors for further blessings and liturgies.
Photos: Annette Scullion
Pilgrims of Hope: ‘As a Church we are pilgrim people, on the journey outwards’
The people of the Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North gathered to celebrate the opening of the Jubilee Year at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on 26 January, led by Archbishop Paul Martin sm, and at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North on 2 February, led by Bishop John Adams. The following excerpts are from the Bishops’ messages and homilies.
Archdiocese of Wellington
Archbishop Paul Martin sm, Archbishop of Wellington
The Holy Father has given this year of Jubilee the theme Pilgrims of Hope and it is a very appropriate focus for us as we spend this next year celebrating and renewing and refocusing our spiritual lives and continuing the call of the mission of the Church.
We are a long way from Rome but we are very much able to take part in this renewal and time of spiritual growth. Over the course of this year there will be a number of opportunities in parishes and around the Archdiocese to take part in events, which will celebrate the Jubilee year and particular aspects or groups within the Church community. There will be times for prayer and group gatherings. The Sacrament of Reconciliation has a special part to play in this year and so parishes will be offering more opportunities than usual for this to happen as well. I also encourage you to attend Mass on a weekday as well as on Sunday, so you can experience the power of the Eucharistic celebration in a slightly different mode.
As we begin our year of Jubilee may each one of us deepen our relationship with the Lord and experience more powerfully the hope which comes with that, so that we will be heralds of the Gospel and bring many others to know the love of God, his promises and his presence and power in their lives.
May you be blessed and graced in this year of Jubilee.
Diocese of Palmerston North
Bishop John Adams, Bishop of Palmerston North
Let’s spend a little time this morning being reminded of exactly why we, as a Christian community, as a Catholic community, are so bold in our hope as this Holy Year begins.
This year of Hope, which we so joyfully begin in our Diocese of Palmerston North, is surely more than pious thinking or baseless optimism. No, Christian hope is real, it is concrete, it is life changing. Which is why, I am guessing, when Pope Francis first announced this Holy Year he asked each one of us to ‘lift up our hearts to Christ and become singers of hope in a world marked by too much despair’.
We stand together in this cathedral this morning, shoulder to shoulder, to say that life is not hope-less – despite the particular circumstances of your life, despite the particular challenges that may lie before you, despite any multitude of obstacles blocking your way. Your life is not hopeless, because the final victory has been won, and that victory has gone to love. And the winner of that victory knows you by your name, and is calling you to come and follow Him.
Just as Simeon woke up to this truth in our Gospel today, just as St Josephine Bakhita woke up this same truth – let’s ask that this Holy Year might be a time of awakening for us all.
Year of Jubilee 2025
Ordinary Jubilees are celebrated every 25 years in the Universal Church. For the 2025 Jubilee Year Pope Francis has chosen the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, inspired by the words of St Paul in Romans, ‘Hope does not disappoint’ (Romans 5:5).
At St Peter’s in Rome, Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors to begin the Holy Year of Jubilee 2025, on Christmas Eve. He also opened a new Holy Door in Rebebbia Prison, Rome, affirming that the doors of Hope are thrown open to all peoples.
With our summer break in this part of the world, each diocese in New Zealand chose a date that best suited their local celebrations. The Archdiocese of Wellington began the Jubilee Year on 26 January and the Diocese of Palmerston North on 2 February, as people entered through the Cathedral doors ‘thrown open’ for the Year of Jubilee and a time of renewal.
After a short liturgy and blessing from Archbishop Paul Martin sm, as people of the Archdiocese gathered outside the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the sound of a karanga from Noeline Matthews called everyone to begin the Holy Year of Hope. They moved in procession, venerating the Processional Cross held by Archbishop Paul, as they entered the cathedral’s main doors. Inside, in prayerful silence, Archbishop Paul blessed everyone from Baptismal font. Archbishop Paul presided over the Jubilee Opening Mass with Cardinal John Dew, Fr Patrick Bridgman, Deacon Kinh Nyugen and Deacon Philip Manuel. A karanga welcomed those gathered outside the Palmerston North Diocesan Centre, followed by prayers led by Bishop John Adams. The congregation processed along Broadway Ave to the cathedral steps, beginning the Jubilee Year pilgrim journey. At the main doors, Bishop John Adams offered prayers before blessing the entrance and proclaiming the start of the journey ahead. The Proclamation of Pope Francis’ Papal Bull was read before the cathedral doors were opened. Leading the congregation inside, Bishop John presided over Mass, assisted by Bishop Peter Cullinane, Mons Brian Walsh and Fr Vui Hoang.
Photos: Annette Scullion
Coming up in our dioceses…
Archdiocese of Wellington
‘24 Hours for the Lord’
Among the planned events this Jubilee Year, the Archdiocese will be observing ‘24 Hours for the Lord’–a worldwide initiative of prayer and reconciliation celebrated on the eve of the 4th Sunday of Lent. It will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, beginning with an opening Liturgy at 5.30pm on Friday 28 March, and ending with the Vigil Mass at 5.30pm on Saturday 29 March. Parishes and communities are invited to take the lead for an hour during this prayer vigil. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available throughout this time. ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ is an opportunity to pray together for peace, reconciliation and hope in a hurting and fragmented world. Everyone is encouraged to visit the Cathedral to pray during these 24 hours.
Jubilee – a year of Pilgrimage
Pope Francis calls pilgrimage ‘one of the People of God’s most eloquent expressions of faith’. The Archdiocese has identified five Sacred Sites people are encouraged to visit during the Jubilee Year: Pukekaraka Hāto Mere, Ōtaki; Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, St Mary of the Angels National Shrine, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington; and Garin Memorial Chapel in Nelson. Many other sacred spaces are significant to our Catholic story. A pilgrimage resource has been prepared to help individuals and parish groups go on a local pilgrimage. Visit wn.catholic.org.nz/jubilee-2025/ to download the resource. Contact Lucienne Hensel at l.hensel@wn.catholic.org.nz for more information.
Diocese of Palmerston North
Jubilee of Artists – arts trail
The Jubilee of Artists arts trail began on the weekend of 15–16 February, and will continue throughout the Jubilee Year at various churches in the diocese. Participating churches are still being collated. Taking part, so far, are churches in New Plymouth, Hastings, the Cathedral, St Mary’s Palmerston North, Ohakune, Taihape, Pahiatua and Whanganui. This hīkoi can start from any church in our diocese. Explore within a region, a city or embark on a weekend adventure across multiple churches in our diocese, take time to appreciate the art inside and the beauty that surrounds these sacred spaces. This is a time to enjoy, learn and reflect in prayer, and give thanks for the creativity, inspiration, and vision artists bring to our world.
Pilgrimage to Hiruhārama | Jerusalem, 8 March
During this special year, the Church invites us to deepen our faith through pilgrimage, prayer, the sacrament of Reconciliation, and works of mercy. We embrace the opportunity to walk this sacred journey of Mother Aubert, learning about the Mission work she and others inspired among Māori they encountered.