In New Book on Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee Year, Kenyan Priests Offer Insights, Guide in “simple yet profound way”

The member of the Clergy of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Nakuru added, “We wanted to create one comprehensive book that explains everything in a simple yet profound way.”

The book is “especially appealing to Africans,” he told ACI Africa, explaining that the African audience is of interest considering that “the book is published in Africa, written by African Priests, with African examples, and through an African publisher.”

“Many Africans may not have the chance to travel to Rome for the Jubilee celebrations, but this book shows how they can participate meaningfully at their local level,” the Kenyan Catholic Priest pursuing doctoral studies in Theology, specializing in Church History, said about their book that Paulines Publications Africa (PPA) published.

He said that the book he co-authored with Fr. John, his compatriot and Clergy of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Kitui, “covers the history of Christian Jubilees from 1300 up to the present.”

Fr. Casmir Odundo (left) and Fr. John Kivosyo (right)

On January 21, Pope Francis announced the start of a Year of Prayer in preparation for the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, the second in his Pontificate after the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015.

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).

In the interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Casmir said that one of the highlights of their co-authored book on the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year “is the English translation of the original Bull of Indiction by Pope Boniface VIII, ‘Antiquorum habet fida relatio’, which we translated ourselves from Latin to English.”

He said that the book “includes over 40 questions, beginning with the basic notion of what a Jubilee is.”

Fr. John Kivosyo. Credit:Fr. John Kivosyo

In the book, he told ACI Africa, “we distinguish between the Jewish and Christian Jubilees, discuss the origins of the Jubilee, the different adaptations over the centuries, spiritual implications, types of Jubilees, the meaning of indulgences, why indulgences are needed after confession, the Jubilees of Redemption, (and) specific details of Jubilee 2025” among other Jubilee-related details. 

The book provides guidelines on how Catholics globally can celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year, Fr. Casmir said, adding, “As explained in one of the questions, this is a universal Jubilee, and we wrote with a universal audience in mind. We outline what the universal Church requires of local churches and how the Jubilee is organized at the universal level.”

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 the interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Casmir said, “We expect individual Dioceses to create their own calendar of events suited to local needs. Bishops may designate specific churches for visits and pilgrimages within the dioceses and appoint Priests with special faculties for confession.”

He went on to explain the Jubilee-related events scheduled for the Sunday after Christmas Day, the Feast of the Holy Family, when Local Ordinaries across the globe are to officially open the Holy Year in communion with the Holy Father. 

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“On December 29, Bishops will give a papal blessing with a Jubilee indulgence during Masses celebrated in every Cathedral worldwide,” Fr. Casmir said, and added, “We trust our Bishops to organize this event in each Diocese; the Dicastery leaves it to them to explain the Jubilee well; we might even see pastoral letters from various Bishops.”

He told ACI Africa that their book bridges the local and universal dimensions of the Jubilee, offering practical guidance for Catholics in Africa to connect with the Jubilee celebrations across the globe.

 Fr. Casmir Odundo (left) and Fr. John Kivosyo (right)

“The book highlights how Jubilees have historically been times of faith renewal. For example, in the Jubilee of 2000, the Youth Day attracted many people back to the Church and to the Sacraments. The Jubilee of Mercy in 2016 also brought numerous people back to the Church and to the Sacraments,” the Kenyan Catholic Priest said. 

“We expect the same for Jubilee 2025, with pilgrimages, walks, talks, and other activities that put our faith on display and invite people to return,” Fr. Casmir said.

He also recognized the uniqueness of each Jubilee Year, saying, “Each Jubilee is different. In 2016, holy doors were opened in every Cathedral, but for the Jubilee of 2025, only five holy doors in Rome will be opened – the four major Basilicas and one in a Roman prison.”

For those planning to join other pilgrims to Rome during the 2025 Jubilee Year, Fr. Casmir said, “Rome is a place of pilgrimage for every Catholic. Every Catholic longs to see the Vicar of Christ, the Holy Father. Even Saint Paul went to meet Peter. So, we expect those who can make it to come to Rome, just as they did in 1975 and 2000, even from Africa.”

“I compare it to when Jesus went to Peter's house to heal his mother-in-law; after she was healed, many others were healed as well. In the same way, people from all around the world will gather, either in person or digitally, at Peter's house – St. Peter's Basilica,” the Kenyan Rome-based doctoral student Priest told ACI Africa. 

Reflecting on contents of their book on the 2025 Jubilee Year, he said, “We also added some pictures for example of the Jubilee crosses that were used by the Chrisitans of Nyahururu, Kenya in 1975 Jubilee and 1983 Jubilee; there are photos of Jubilee events in Kitui, Kenya and Nakuru, Kenya.”

In its 86 pages, the book has also incorporated the Jubilee calendar, hymns, prayers, and details about the five Holy Doors to be opened in Rome, Fr. Casmir said about their co-authored book available for US$2.50 online or in Catholic bookshops managed by members of the Pious Society of the Daughters of St. Paul (FSP), popularly known as Pauline Sisters or Daughters of St. Paul. 

“The book is a pastoral guide, a historical reference, and a spiritual companion (because it contains prayers) and also serves as a pilgrim's handbook, listing the significant churches to be visited, the Jubilee calendar, hymn et al. Even history or theology professors will learn something new from the book,” he told ACI Africa in the November 15 interview. 

On why they use the term “editors” rather than “authors”, Fr. Casmir said, “We chose to call ourselves editors, but in reality, we are the authors. Because the book conveys many thoughts from the Bull on Indiction by the Holy Father and the Apostolic Penitentiary, we felt it appropriate not to take full credit.”

“Our contribution lies in delving deeply into the Jubilee tradition, laying everything out, exploring the saints of the Jubilee, and discussing specific details not found elsewhere,” the Kenyan Catholic Priest said. 

The book, he continued, “was intended for a general audience as it is a pastoral and catechetical book, but even professors will find something new. All of it is explained in simple language.”

Fr. Casmir said that as authors of the book, they view it as an opportunity to rekindle hope and faith, especially in challenging times. 

Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)

“Today’s world needs a message of hope. There is so much negativity, and people are giving up on themselves and on others. We need to reassure people that God is present and in control, (and) that heaven awaits us. The material world we see is not everything. This message is particularly important for young people,” he said.

Alluding to a situation of hope that has characterized the Church in Africa, the doctoral student at Santa Croce in Rome said, “One thing that gives us hope as young Priests is seeing our Seminaries full.”

“In other parts of the world, such as Europe, where we are currently based, Seminaries are closing, yet in Kenya, a new seminary has recently opened,” he said, referring to the Propaedeutic Seminary named after St. Charles Borromeo, which the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret officially inaugurated on November 10.

“There is hope for the Church,” Fr. Casmir said, and added, “We need to spread positive vibes and remind people that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.”