As we approach the year 2025, the world is reminded that, despite the passage of time and changes in cultural practices, Christ remains at the centre of history. The shift from BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, Latin for "in the year of the Lord") to BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) has not diminished His significance. Christ remains the pivotal figure around whom all of history revolves, a truth that endures. As Jesus declares in Revelation 22:13, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
A Jubilee Year is a time-honoured tradition within the Church that dates back to biblical times. In the Bible, a Jubilee Year marks the 50th year, following seven cycles of seven years. It is a time of renewal, forgiveness, and restoration, as described in Isaiah’s proclamation of the “year of the Lord’s favour,” a theme echoed by Jesus in Luke 4:19. Observing a Jubilee encourages reflection on the past, embracing the present, and looking toward the future with hope. Which is the theme of the Year: Pilgrims of Hope
The history of the Jubilee Year within the Church is rich and significant. The first officially declared Jubilee Year was proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII on February 22, 1300, marking the beginning of an extraordinary tradition in the Christian faith. Pope Clement VI later established the practice of observing the Jubilee every 50 years in 1343. By 1470, Pope Paul II had further institutionalized the celebration, setting the recurrence of the Jubilee every 25 years.
One of the most recent and memorable Jubilees was the Great Jubilee of 2000, which included a three-year period of preparation. Each year leading up to 2000 focused on different aspects of the Holy Trinity: 1997 was dedicated to God the Son, 1998 to God the Holy Spirit, and 1999 to God the Father. This period of reflection and anticipation culminated in a profound renewal of faith for many around the world.
As we prepare for the Jubilee of 2025, it is essential to recognize the unique opportunity it presents for spiritual renewal. Pope Francis has called upon the faithful to reflect on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, particularly its four major documents: Dei Verbum (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), Sacrosanctum Concilium (The Constitution on Sacred Liturgy), Lumen Gentium (The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), and Gaudium et Spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World). These documents represent the Church’s commitment to engaging with the world in a spirit of openness and inclusivity, a commitment that remains relevant as we approach the Jubilee of 2025.
In December 2023, Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes formed a Jubilee Year Planning Committee, which set to work immediately. Along with the Jubilee Year Activity Committee, programs and services were planned and swiftly put into action. The first initiative was a series of video clips produced by the Catholic Communication Centre (CCC), explaining the purpose of the Second Vatican Council and its four major documents. These videos were followed by “40 Gems for Lent”—two-minute videos featuring ten key quotes from each document for daily prayer and reflection during Lent, disseminated via WhatsApp, Facebook, and other platforms to individuals and parishes.
Various Heads of Commissions of the Archdiocese met on July 26 to coordinate their plans for the Jubilee Year, ensuring a harmonious schedule of prayer services, visits to institutions, outreach programs, pilgrimages, and activities for all ages and language groups. The Archdiocesan Liturgy Commission (ALC) has already planned Holy Hours for First Fridays, beginning with a focus on Dei Verbum in August. Additionally, the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, in collaboration with the South Deanery, has planned a Novena for the Nativity of Mother Mary on the theme of prayer.
As the Jubilee Year unfolds, this page invites you to share reports and reflections on the Jubilee Year theme with The Examiner. Let us embrace this sacred time as a moment of renewal, deepening our faith and commitment to the teachings of Christ.
Fr. Clifton Lobo
for the Jubilee Committee