Archdiocese of Pretoria launches Jubilee 2025

The Archdiocese of Pretoria has made history as one of the first Catholic communities worldwide to launch the Jubilee Year 2025, an event that promises renewal, reconciliation, and hope. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, situated in the heart of South Africa’s capital city, overflowed with worshippers as Catholics from across the Archdiocese answered the call of Archbishop Dabula Mpako and Auxiliary Bishop Masilo Selemela to embrace this sacred year.

The mood was electric and celebratory as representatives from the Archdiocese’s deaneries and parishes filled the cathedral with vibrant song and dance. Many participants sacrificed their holiday festivities to partake in this momentous occasion. Emeritus Archbishop William Slattery OFM also joined the gathering to show his support for the initiative.

Archbishop Mpako formally inaugurated the Jubilee Year by reading his pastoral letter, making the program official within the Archdiocese. In his address, he reiterated Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as a Jubilee Year, an ancient tradition rooted in biblical scripture (Leviticus 25:8-13). This year-long observance, he explained, is an invitation to restore relationships with God, others, and creation through forgiveness, reconciliation, and mercy.

Pope Francis’ Call to Hope

Pope Francis officially launched the Jubilee Year on December 24, 2024, at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City by opening the Holy Door, a symbolic gesture marking the beginning of a special year of grace. The Pope’s theme for the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope, emphasises the vital role of hope in Christian life and encourages Catholics to foster reconciliation and charity in their communities.

In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Mpako highlighted the ways in which the Archdiocese would live out the Jubilee’s call to hope and renewal. Activities will include pilgrimages, prayer, the sacrament of reconciliation, and works of mercy. A Joint Jubilee Year Committee has been established to oversee various celebrations at the diocesan, deanery, and parish levels.

A Moving Homily by Auxiliary Bishop Selemela

During the launch, Auxiliary Bishop Masilo Selemela delivered a heartfelt homily, urging the faithful to embrace the Jubilee’s message of healing and renewal. “As the family of the Archdiocese, we gather today to open our hearts to the working of the Holy Spirit. Let us mend broken relationships, create opportunities to inspire hope, and bandage the wounds of those we encounter,” he said.

Reflecting on the symbolism of the Holy Door, Bishop Selemela reminded the congregation of Christ’s invitation in the Gospel of John (10:9-11): “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” He emphasised that the true Jubilee lies within – in our hearts, relationships, and communities. “Without Jesus at the heart of our lives, all is empty and meaningless,” he added.

A Focus on Indulgences and Renewal

The Jubilee Year also provides an opportunity for Catholics to obtain a plenary indulgence, a remission of temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven. Bishop Selemela explained that this indulgence could be gained by fulfilling specific conditions, including confession, reception of the Eucharist, prayer, and acts of devotion and charity. He encouraged the faithful to approach this grace with sincerity and a desire for personal holiness.

Explaining Three Jubilee Items: Symbols of Pilgrimage and Hope

Father Alfred Bwana, speaking at the celebration, introduced the symbols of the Jubilee pilgrimage that will be carried throughout the Archdiocese. These symbols serve as reminders of the hope and unity that the Jubilee Year seeks to inspire.

Candle: The Candle of Silver Jubilee was lit – a symbolic prayer to God that as He led the Israelites from Egypt through the Red Sea, through the desert, and settled them in Canaan. He may lead us through our turbulent moments unto times of greater hope. It is also an invitation to us, a community of believers, to keep the flame of hope alive in our hearts (cf. RCIA, no. 230) and in our midst, encouraged by this pillar of hope.

As during baptism, His Grace will later on share the message of hope unto our six deaneries, praying that the flame of hope may never be dimmed by sharing it (cf. Exultet). Instead, it should spread throughout the Archdiocese and be kept alive during the Jubilee Year and to eternity, when we will meet Christ, the ultimate Lord of hope.

Cross: This cross represents the cross in the Jubilee logo. The cross is a sign of hope that God has given to the world in the person of Jesus. We are in need of this hope. For there are seeds of hopelessness in our times. Just a little while ago, we were all faced by a sudden outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic that caused many deaths and forms of hardships. Currently, there are also many who suffer from the effects of war; they face uncertainty, feelings of grief, doubt, fear, disorientation, and so on. As a community, we are invited to hold on to the cross, much like the four human figures in the Jubilee logo.

The cross is also the anchor of our hope. This is evident in the Jubilee logo embedded onto the lit candle. The lower part of the cross is elongated and turned into a shape of an anchor, which is let down into the waves. In maritime spheres, an anchor stabilises the ship amidst the storms.

In addition, the cross is bent down backwards towards the four human figures. This indicates God’s act of compassion, seeking us out and offering surety of hope.

Prayer: Through baptism, we are made into a pilgrim Church, headed for our heavenly home. We pray that God may help us renew our yearning for the heavenly treasure and journey towards it with hope. This is the gist of the Jubilee prayer we have just taken.

The candle, cross, and prayer help us understand much better the Jubilee Year of Hope and prepare us for a worthy celebration.

A Call to Action

Archbishop Mpako concluded his letter by exhorting all Catholics in the Archdiocese to participate wholeheartedly in the Jubilee Year. “May this Jubilee be an opportunity to encounter the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ of our salvation, and to become tangible signs of hope in the world,” he said.

The launch of the Jubilee Year 2025 marks the beginning of a journey of faith, hope, and renewal for the Archdiocese of Pretoria. With a comprehensive plan for celebrations at every level, the local Church is set to embody Pope Francis’ vision of a “genuine, personal encounter with the Lord” that uplifts individuals, families, and communities.