Special Event on Saturday, January 25^th Represents the Local Opening of Jubilee Year

All are invited to join Bishop Gregory Parkes for the local opening of the Jubilee Year called for by Pope Francis with the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.” A Jubilee Year is held every 25 years in the Catholic Church to promote reconciliation and forgiveness, and to encourage pilgrimages.  In 2025, Pope Francis is asking each of us to strengthen our sense of hope and to “be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.”

The media are invited to preview and cover this event.

What: Local Opening Event of the Jubilee Year of Hope
Where: Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, known as the Mother Church of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, 5815 5th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
When: Saturday, January 25, 2025, 3:45 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Key Moments of this Event:

• At 3:45 p.m., families and individuals will gather outside (on the corner of 5th Avenue and Tyrone Boulevard) for a procession into the church to emphasize their role as Pilgrims of Hope.
• The bishop will read an excerpt from the pope’s official document about the Jubilee Year.
• At the entrance to the Cathedral, the bishop will hold up the Jubilee Year cross for all to see and the faithful will show respect and honor to the cross.
• The bishop will lead the Pilgrims of Hope into the Cathedral, and the bishop will celebrate the opening Mass for the Jubilee Year.

 Additional Information:

This event was originally scheduled for January 5th but was rescheduled due to the bishop being under the weather. Bishop Parkes stated: “Our Diocese will unite with Pope Francis and Catholics all over the world in celebrating this special year of grace and favor.” Additional Jubilee events for our area will be announced in the coming weeks.

The practice of a jubilee year has ancient roots. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first Christian Jubilee, a year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on the spiritual life. Since then, popes have designated Jubilee years as a special time of grace and forgiveness. Originally occurring every 50 years, today this practice is observed every 25 years and serves as a reminder of God’s love, mercy, and continual call to conversion.