Pilgrims of Hope: Embracing the Jubilee and the Journey Through the Holy Doors
Every 25 years, the Catholic Church invites the faithful into a Jubilee Year, a sacred time of renewal, reconciliation, and profound spiritual invitation. It’s a reminder that we are not merely people of tradition, but people of hope. The Jubilee is a time to step forward with fresh purpose, to seek mercy, and to rediscover what it means to be in communion with God and one another.
The Jubilee of Hope 2025
In 2025, Pope Francis has called the Church to celebrate a Jubilee of Hope. The theme is both timely and prophetic—our world is in deep need of healing, unity, and renewed vision. As Pilgrims of Hope, we are invited to journey inward and outward: to deepen our relationship with Christ, and to walk together with others in compassion, justice, and love.
This Jubilee is more than a commemoration, it is a call to action. Hope, as Pope Francis reminds us, is not passive. It is lived, embodied, and shared.
Youth Jubilee: The Next Generation of Pilgrims
From 28 July to 3 August 2025, thousands of young people from every continent will gather in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. This once-in-a-generation event is more than a celebration—it is a powerful expression of faith, energy, and courage.
We’re proud to share that our very own Fr Christian Fini OMI, Fr Joshua Nash OMI, and Emma Rice have now landed in Rome to be part of this incredible journey. Representing the Oblate family and Australia’s young Church, they will walk side by side with youth from around the globe as Pilgrims of Hope.
Together, they will share stories, celebrate their faith, and pass through the Holy Doors—marking their commitment to conversion, communion, and mission. For the Oblates, this moment echoes the charism of St Eugene de Mazenod, whose missionary heart continues to guide us.
The Four Holy Doors
A key tradition of any Jubilee Year is the pilgrimage through the Four Holy Doors in Rome:
St. Peter’s Basilica – the heart of the Church and symbol of unity with the Pope.
St. John Lateran – the Cathedral of Rome and mother of all churches, representing our call to holiness and unity.
St. Mary Major – a door of tenderness and Marian devotion, echoing Mary’s role as Mother of the Church.
St. Paul Outside the Walls – a door reminding us of mission, conversion, and the power of God’s grace.
Passing through these doors is more than symbolic—it is a spiritual crossing. Pilgrims step out of the ordinary and into a space of grace. They walk away from the familiar and into the heart of God.
A Moment of Grace for the Oblate Family
For the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Jubilee offers a special opportunity to live out our founding mission: to walk with the poor, the forgotten, the young, and the searching. As pilgrims, we are called to journey with others, not above them,and to carry the light of Christ into the world’s most challenging places.
As we join with our Oblate companions in Rome and prepare to cross these thresholds of hope, may we do so with open hearts, renewed faith, and bold missionary spirit. This Jubilee is not just an event. It is a doorway into grace, into mission, into a deeper communion with God and one another.