Embracing the 2025 Jubilee Year
As the Church enters the second month of the 2025 Jubilee Year, we embrace Pope Francis’s vision of becoming “Pilgrims of Hope.” This calling takes on profound significance in our contemporary world.
Why Hope?
In an era where uncertainty, fear, and violence seem to pervade every corner of our world, the Catholic Church stands ready to offer humanity its most precious gift: a reason to hope. This hope isn’t mere optimism; it’s a transformative power that can illuminate our darkest moments.
The Essence of Christian Hope
“The theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit”
– Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1817)
Hope as a Transformative Power
Hope, as a virtue, carries within it an extraordinary power. Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we come to understand and accept that we are perpetually embraced by God’s love. This divine love becomes the catalyst that enables us to extend that same love to others, creating a continuous cycle of grace and blessing.
Stewardship and Hope
The foundation of church stewardship rests upon this recognition of God’s boundless love. When we truly comprehend the depth of God’s love for us, we are naturally moved to respond through:
- The generous sharing of our time
- The faithful offering of our talents
- The responsible stewardship of our treasure
Your prayers and contributions to the Church’s missions emerge from this profound experience of God’s love manifesting in your life.
The Wellspring of Hope
At the heart of Christian hope lies the Holy Spirit—the eternal, ever-flowing source of all hope. As the Catechism teaches us, it is through the Holy Spirit’s grace that we find the strength to persevere and grow in hope.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Bishop John Boissonneau
National Director