What is a Jubilee Year?
In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee or Holy Year is a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation, in which people are invited to come back into right relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation.
How often is a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee Year is celebrated by the Church every 25 years. This has been the case since 1470, when Pope Paul II changed it from every 50 years.
A Pope can also proclaim an Extraordinary Jubilee, like the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy which Pope Francis inaugurated in 2015.
What is the theme of the Jubilee Year in 2025?
The theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can “restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone”. We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God’s creation in which we understand ourselves as “pilgrims on the earth” rather than masters of the world.
The Jubilee Launch at St Bede’s
The Oscar Romero Rangers
Jubilee Year 2025: School Calendar of Events
January – Opening Celebration
- School-wide assembly introducing the Year of Jubilee theme
- Children create “Holy Door” artwork to display
February – Acts of Charity
- Children to vote on charities to support during the Jubilee Year
- Children to create artwork on the theme of
March – Lenten Reflection & Reconciliation
- KS2 reconciliation service
- Whole-school Holy Week Liturgies
April – Hope and Celebration
- ‘Hope in Action’ challenge, where children commit to acts of kindness
- Fundraising walk for CAFOD
May – Marian Devotion & Retreat
- Rosary prayer service dedicated to Mary
- Whole school Spring Retreat Day
June – Pilgrimage
- ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ Prayer Walk in the local community
- Jubilee Picnic
July – Summer Faith Challenge
- End of term mass celebrating the children’s faith journey
- Children to complete faith-based challenges over the summer holidays
September – Saints & Missionary Spirit
- Learning about missionary saints and their journeys of hope
- “Be a Saint Day” where children dress as saints
October – Creation and Stewardship Month
- Focus on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ and caring for creation
- Environmental clean-up and stewardship projects
November – Remembering and Giving Thanks
- Reflection on departed loved ones and the hope of eternal life
- Whole-school Thanksgiving prayer service
December – Closing of the Jubilee Year
- Final school celebration with Mass and reflections
- Children write letters about what they have learned