2025 Year of Jubilee concludes
Canon Michael Branch celebrates Mass to conclude the Jubilee Year in Southwark
To mark the closing of the Jubilee Year 2025, Canon Michael Branch celebrated Solemn Mass at St George’s Cathedral on Sunday 28 December.
The theme for the Jubilee Year 2025 was “pilgrims of hope”, with Pope Francis calling on the world to “fan the flame of hope that has been given us”.
It has been a joyful Year of Jubilee in Southwark, which many events and celebrations across the Archdiocese, all aimed at helping people to deepen their relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Archbishop John Wilson, in a Pastoral Letter issued on the Feast of the Holy Family, wrote about the graces and joy of the Jubilee Year:
As we give thanks for the graces of this Jubilee Year —not least our wonderful celebration at Aylesford — we recall how we have journeyed together more consciously as ‘pilgrims into hope.’ This hope remains with us and needs to be shared more widely as we become an ever more missionary and evangelising Archdiocese. The Holy Family reminds us that mission begins in the heart, and in the home; it grows in parish life; and it is called to bear fruit in the world.
He added:
As the Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close, we embrace anew the hope born for us at Bethlehem. Jesus Christ — who lived and was crucified, rose again, and is alive — is the hope of the world. In Christ, the radiant hope of God’s love and mercy shines into every heart and family
Here are some highlights from the Year of Jubilee in Southwark.
Archbishop John opens the Jubilee Year in Southwark
Archbishop John leads children in Eucharistic adoration
Pilgrimage to Pentecost guides people on a spiritual pilgrimage to Pentecost
Archbishop John leads a pilgrimage to Walsingham
Over 3,000 gather in Aylesford to celebrate the Jubilee
Over 1,000 school children celebrate the Jubilee at Aylesford
Archbishop John Wilson encouraged us to use the Jubilee Year as a time when we drew closer to the Lord Jesus in Eucharistic adoration. Archbishop John said that the Lord Jesus “is the reason for the hope within us” and called on us all to become Eucharistic disciples this year by finding hope in Eucharistic adoration. You can access various resources on Eucharistic adoration, including all the parish profiles, at rcaos.org.uk/hopeinadoration.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the Year of Jubilee in Southwark – may we continue to fan the flame of hope given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.
