The Jubilee Year

The Jubilee Year is one of the Church’s most ancient and powerful traditions. Jubilees celebrate a sacred time of restoration, mercy, and new beginnings. Its origins go all the way back to ancient times, where God commands Moses to consecrate every 50th year as a sacred year of God’s favour. “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan” (Lev 15:10). In that year, land was returned to its original owners, debts were forgiven, slaves were set free, and even the earth itself was given rest as no crops were planted. It was God’s way of ensuring that freedom won in the Exodus would never be lost, that no one would remain trapped in poverty, injustice, or despair. The Jubilee was a “great reset,” not just of economics or property, but of human dignity and divine mercy. The Church later established Jubilee Years to occur every 25 years, making this sacred time of grace and renewal more accessible to each generation.

In 2025, the Church once again celebrates a Jubilee Year, proclaimed by Pope Francis as a time for the whole world to rediscover hope, especially amidst so much conflict, division, and uncertainty in our times; the theme being Pilgrims of Hope. It is a personal invitation to slow down and renew oneself… “to let go and let God”.

A central feature of any Jubilee is the opening of the Holy Door in Rome, and in cathedrals around the world. This door symbolises Christ Himself, who says, “I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). Passing through the Jubilee Door as a pilgrim is supposed to be a reflective and rejuvenating time.

I’m excited to share that next week, Sunday 22nd June at the 9:30am Mass we will officially open our Jubilee Archway at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Caloundra. The archway will be decorated by the art submissions of various ministries and cultural groups in the Parish and will remain accessible throughout the rest of the year. And much like a Holy Door, it will serve as a symbol of renewal, grace, and spiritual invitation during this Jubilee Year.

A holiday and a pilgrimage may both involve travel, but they are not the same. A holiday is like scrolling
through photos whereas a pilgrimage is like stepping into the story. One offers leisure and enjoyment, the other invites active growth and deeper transformation.

Pilgrimage often includes challenge such as delays, discomfort, even struggle. But rather than being obstacles, these are seen as spiritually meaningful. As Christians, we believe that the journey itself is holy. Life, after all, is a kind of pilgrimage and the Jubilee reminds us that it is not just a journey to somewhere, but a doorway
into seeing life differently with hope.

Personally, I love adventure and being in the great outdoors. There’s something about nature that makes me feel truly alive, free from the confines of four walls. Whether it’s after a jog, a surf, or a fishing session, I always try to take home a little lesson. My latest lesson? Tie knots properly and check the fishing line for wear and tear otherwise with one strong cast, your lure might go flying off! In the same way, try to be intentional about your pilgrimage through life. Every step, every moment, can teach us something if we’re open to it.

Perhaps, like many of us, you’ve found it hard to slow down with everything life demands. It’s hard to believe we’re nearly halfway through 2025! But maybe, this year, something as simple as walking through the OLR Jubilee Archway or through the Holy Door at the Cathedral in Brisbane can be your quiet “yes” to God, a moment to encounter Jesus anew and take a simple step toward a fresh start, especially in the wake of being filled with the Spirit at Pentecost.

The Jubilee is more than a biblical tradition or Church event, it’s a deeply personal invitation to return, release, and renew. A chance to begin again in the boundless mercy of God.

May your journey this week be marked by hope, renewal, and growth.

Fr Gerard.