The Holy Father said the 2025 Jubilee Year will be “a year dedicated to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer in one’s personal life, in the life of the Church, and in the world.”
“I ask you to intensify your prayer to prepare us to live this event of grace well and to experience the power of God’s hope. That is why today we begin a Year of Prayer,” he said in his January 21 Angelus address about the Catholic Church’s Jubilee set to begin on Christmas Eve 2024 and conclude on 6 January 2026 under the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope”.
Months later, on the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ on May 9, the Holy Father solemnly proclaimed the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025 at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica, during which he delivered the Bull of Indiction of the planned Jubilee, “Spes non confundit” (Hope does not disappoint).
The Jubilee Year provides the people of God across the globe an opportunity to participate in various planned jubilee events at the Vatican and in their respective Episcopal Sees and Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL).
In his December 9 message, Cardinal Ameyu directs “each Parish Priest to select two couples from their respective parishes to represent their community” at the launch of the Jubilee Year in Juba Archdiocese on December 29 at St. Theresa Cathedral.
He says, “This gathering will not only mark the beginning of the Jubilee Year but will also serve as a powerful reminder of the role that families play in the life of the Catholic Church and society.”
“By sending couples to this celebration, we can highlight the beauty of marriage and family life, which are foundational to our faith and the Church's mission,” the Local Ordinary of Juba who doubles as President of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSS-CBC) says.
He encourages Parish Priests to “choose couples who exemplify the values of love, commitment, and faithfulness, and who can share their experiences and insights with others in our Archdiocese.”
Cardinal Ameyu further says, “Their participation will not only enrich the celebration but also inspire other families to embrace their roles as vital members of the Church.
The Catholic Church leader also encourages Parish Priests to “celebrate the Jubilee Year at the Parish Level emphasizing unity in faith and reconciliation.”
