Jubilee Visits to the Shrine

Following two years of preparation, which have focused on Vatican II and Prayer we are now invited to embark on a Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of Hope. This Jubilee Year reminds us of the ‘jubilee’ of Israel when the land was rested, and debts were to be cancelled, and God called people to be reconciled with one another and importantly with God’s self.

We, too, are called to be reconciled with one another, to proclaim God’s abundant mercy and the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Within our Diocese, there will be plenty of opportunities for us to celebrate this Jubilee Year. In particular, our Cathedral Church of SS Peter and Paul will be open every day for Pilgrims to come and experience the ‘Pilgrims’ Way, within the Cathedral itself. This prayerful journey around the Cathedral will invite us to pray for hope in our lives and in our world.

On 5th April, ‘Embracing the Mercy of God’ will be an opportunity for the diocese to come together to celebrate the great Sacrament of Hope which we have been given in the form of Reconciliation.

Our diocesan day on 19th July will be a further opportunity for us to gather as a community to consider how we take this message of Hope to the world with activities for children and young people, we hope that many people will make the pilgrimage to Bristol for this joyful gathering.

Do look out for more information on these events as we go through the year. May the Jubilee Year unite us all in a Spirit of Hope and joy for the love we have for the Lord and long to share with those who have yet to hear the message we have been privileged to embrace. My prayers & best wishes,

Bosco, Bishop of Clifton

When is the Jubilee?

The Year will run from the opening of the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday 24th December 2024 to the Solemnity of the Epiphany 2026.

Bishop Bosco will formally open the 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope in the diocese at the 11.15am Mass at Clifton Cathedral on 29th December. All are welcome to inaugurate this special year.

Indulgence for the Jubilee

To help us during the Year, a plenary indulgence can be gained not only by making a pilgrimage to a Jubilee church, but also by devotedly performing one of the acts prescribed by the Church.

Jubilee Churches in our diocese:

• Cathedral Church of SS Peter & Paul, Clifton, Bristol

• Our Lady St Mary of Glastonbury, Glastonbury, Somerset

Living as Pilgrims of Hope

We are all pilgrims on our journey towards the Lord. There are many opportunities to deepen our life of faith and relationship with God.

Pope Francis is also encouraging us to rediscover the ancient practice of pilgrimage during 2025. All are invited to join our diocesan pilgrimages, such as the Clifton Diocese Pilgrimage to Rome, with Bishop Bosco and Canon Christopher Whitehead, 27th September to 2nd October 2025, our annual pilgrimage to Lourdes and our Diocesan Glastonbury pilgrimage, which takes place on 7th September 2025.

Sharing Hope

We instinctively understand Jubilees to be celebrations of the good things that we share. And Jubilee Years are about the Good News!

Consider opportunities to share the unifying and liberating message of the Jubilee with parishioners, neighbours, schools, and the wider community. What special events or anniversaries are happening in 2025 that you can link to the Jubilee, and turn into extra-special celebrations?

For example, try to attend one of our annual diocesan Masses, such as the Mass for Marriage & Family Life, and the Chrism Mass. The Rite of Election which takes place at the Cathedral at 11am on 8th March is an excellent opportunity to share our Faith with those who are making a public commitment of their desire to join us in full Communion at the Easter Vigil. Your support for them by joining us on that occasion will be a great sign of Hope for each of them.

The Jubilee Icon

The Jubilee Icon has been brought to us from the people of Ethiopia. The Jubilee’s focus on justice is relevant to the production of this Ethiopian icon. The icon portrays Jesus faithfully in the Northern Ethiopian tradition. The icon interprets Jesus’ teaching of healing and liberation in the Synagogue in Luke 4:16-21, which refers to Isaiah 61:1-2: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”

The meaning and symbolism of the icon is explained in the beautiful video on this dedicated webpage: The Jubilee icon.

The Jubilee icon is touring the country during the Jubilee Year and was in Clifton Diocese during the month of May. The Icon was placed in the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury between Wednesday 7th – Friday 9th May.

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.

Amen.

Official prayer from Pope Francis for the Jubilee year 2025, "Pilgrims of Hope"

Bishop Bosco MacDonald celebrated Mass at the Shrine on 5th January after formally opening the 2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ in the Diocese at Clifton Cathedral on 29th December 2024.

During his homily, Bishop Bosco recited the Act of Hope:

“My God, I hope in you, for grace and for glory, because of your promises, your mercy, and your power.”

The Bishop explained the essence of prayer:  Where do we place our hope in life?  We often put our hopes in various things, such as politicians, celebrities, and the books we read, but these hopes can easily be dashed.  Therefore, we should redirect our hope back to God, who offers us grace – His active presence in our lives today – and glory, which encompasses our eternal future.

Why can we place our hope in God more than in anything else we might be tempted to trust? It is because of His promises and His mercy. Although God is the Creator of the Universe, all-powerful and supremely just, He is also profoundly merciful.