Jubilee Year of Hope
A Call to Hope and Renewal
The 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, is a time for renewal, reflection, and spiritual growth. It gives us a chance to rediscover God’s love, reconcile with others, and contribute to building a more just and merciful world. Through indulgences, pilgrimages, and acts of charity, the Jubilee invites us to grow spiritually and embrace our roles as peacemakers and witnesses to Christ’s love.
What Is a Jubilee?
The concept of a Jubilee originates in the Bible (Leviticus 25:10), where every 50th year was set aside as a time of restoration, freedom, and renewal for the people of Israel. During this sacred time, debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and the land was allowed to rest.
The Catholic Church has adopted this tradition, proclaiming Jubilee Years periodically as opportunities for spiritual renewal and reconciliation. A Jubilee is a time to reflect on God’s mercy and generosity, inviting believers to deepen their faith and strengthen their commitment to justice, peace, and love.
Jubilee Years also serve as reminders of the Church’s mission to heal divisions, restore relationships, and embrace hope. The 2025 Jubilee Year theme, Spes Non Confundit (Hope Does Not Disappoint), calls us to anchor our lives in the steadfast hope that comes from God.
What is an Indulgence?
A key feature of this Holy Year is the opportunity to gain an indulgence, part of the Catholic tradition aimed at deepening one’s relationship with God and neighbour. Through an indulgence, one can be released from the temporal punishment due for sins that have already been forgiven through confession. It is an act of divine mercy, granted through the Church, that helps purify us and strengthen our commitment to a holy life. Indulgences remind us, particularly during a Jubilee Year, of God's abundant grace and call us to reconciliation and renewal.
Why Participate in a Jubilee Pilgrimage?
Pilgrimages are powerful acts of faith, symbolising our journey toward God. Visiting one of Adelaide’s Jubilee sites allows for a profound encounter with Christ. St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, as a spiritual heart of the archdiocese, invites worshippers to reflect on God’s mercy. St Joseph in Penola connects pilgrims to the courage and faith of St Mary MacKillop, a pioneer of Catholic education in Australia. St Aloysius in Sevenhill offers a peaceful setting to contemplate the Jesuit mission and the beauty of creation.
Whether walking through the Holy Door, praying for the intentions of others, or performing works of mercy, each act brings us closer to God and strengthens our hope in His promises​. Let this Jubilee Year be a time of grace for us all in the Archdiocese of Adelaide.