Jubilee Year 2025
What is the Jubilee Year 2025
The Jubilee Year 2025 has been proclaimed by Pope Francis to be a time focused on forgiveness of sin, conversion, and joyful celebration in which we renew ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope”. It began on December 24, 2024 and will conclude on January 6, 2026.
How to Obtain a Plenary Indulgence
Catholics may obtain a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year. A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin. To obtain a plenary indulgence, the following conditions must be met:
- Detachment from all sin, including venial sin
- Sacramental Confession
- Reception of Holy Communion
- Prayer for the intentions of the Pope
- Performance of an acceptable work
Acceptable works can be found below in more detail:
Make a Pilgrimage
Catholics who make a pilgrimage to Rome during the 2025 Jubilee Year can obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting at least one of the four major papal basilicas. In addition, an indulgence can be obtained by spending time in prayer in several other churches in Rome. Catholics can also gain a plenary indulgence by making a pious pilgrimage to their cathedral or to another church or shrine selected by the local bishop. Within our Diocese, the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids has been designated as a local pilgrimage location.
Perform a Work of Mercy
The Jubilee Year is a time when Catholics are especially encouraged to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The Apostolic Penitentiary lists visiting prisoners, spending time with lonely elderly people, aiding the sick or disabled, and helping those who are in need as instances to obtain an indulgence. Practicing the works of mercy, it says, is “in a sense making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them.”
Indulgences for works of mercy can be received multiple times throughout the Jubilee Year, even daily, according to the decree.
If the indulgence is being applied to the deceased, two plenary indulgences can be obtained on the same day.
Complete an Act of Penance
Acts of penance can also obtain a plenary indulgence. The Vatican lists several options, including:
- Abstaining for at least one day a week from “futile distractions,” such as social media or television
- Fasting
- Donating “a proportionate sum of money to the poor”
- Supporting religious or social works, especially in the defense of life in all phases
- Offering support to migrants, the elderly, the poor, young people in difficulty, and abandoned children
- Volunteering in service to your community
Jubilee Pilgrimages to the Cathedral of Saint Andrew
The Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Grand Rapids is a designated pilgrimage location for the Jubilee Year 2025. To attend a pilgrimage, visit during one of the pilgrimage Masses and receptions being held throughout the year.
Each pilgrimage will start at 3 p.m. with Mass. A reception will follow at Cathedral Square Center. Although some days seek to draw together certain groups of pilgrims under a theme, all are invited to each event.
June 22, 2025 – Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy
June 29, 2025 – Families: Youth, Parents & Grandparents
September 28, 2025 – Vietnamese Community
November 2, 2025 –Young Adult and College/University Students
December 28, 2025 – Conclusion of the Jubilee Year
Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy
Sunday, June 22, 2025 at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew
3:00 p.m. Mass
4:00 p.m. Reception
Pilgrimage is an essential element of every jubilee. During the Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Grand Rapids is hosting several local pilgrimages. Join volunteers, ministry leaders and clergy who seek to live out the spiritual and corporal works of mercy in their careers and volunteer efforts for this special event. Although local pilgrimages, like this one, seek to draw together certain groups of pilgrims under a theme, all are welcome!
The corporal works of mercy address physical needs and include: Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, Clothe the naked, Shelter the homeless, Visit the imprisoned, Care for the sick, Bury the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy address emotional and spiritual needs and include: Instruct the ignorant, Counsel the doubtful, Admonish the sinner, Bear wrongs patiently, Forgive willingly, Comfort the afflicted, Pray for the living and the dead.
Families: Youth, Parents, & Grandparents
Sunday, June 29, 2025 at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew
2:00 p.m. Reconciliation
2:15 p.m. Rosary
3:00 p.m. Mass
4:00 p.m. Reception
All are cordially invited to a special pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. Andrew in honor of the Jubilee of Families: Youth, Parents & Grandparents (the Domestic Church), on Sunday, June 29. Reconciliation will be offered at 2 p.m. and a family rosary will be prayed on the piazza outside the cathedral at 2:15 p.m. Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate Mass at 3 p.m. during which, he will invoke the Lord’s blessing upon families. A reception will be held at Cathedral Square Center immediately following Mass as an opportunity to build friendships and strengthen us as signs of hope for others. We look forward to joining you and your loved ones for this sacred celebration.
Families are invited to sign up by June 13 to serve at Mass and throughout the day. Volunteer to lead a decade of the rosary, altar serve, present the gifts, and more. Volunteers will be selected with a drawing after the deadline and will be notified.
More Pilgrimage Opportunities
Diocese Pilgrimage to Poland
November 3-11, 2025
