Archdiocese of Johannesburg Closes Jubilee Year at Christ the King Cathedral

by Kati Dijane · December 29, 2025

Archdiocese of Joburg closes Jubilee Year. Photos: Sheldon Reddiar (Sacred Photos)

By Kati Dijane, Photos: Sheldon Reddiar – The Jubilee Year of Hope in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg came to a close at Christ the King Cathedral, where hundreds of faithful gathered for a special Mass presided over by Cardinal Stephen Brislin. The celebration marked the conclusion of a year-long spiritual journey that invited Catholics across the world to renew their faith and live as pilgrims of hope.

The liturgy, held on the Feast of the Holy Family, drew parishioners from across the archdiocese, alongside clergy, religious and lay people. It formed part of a global moment in the life of the Church, as dioceses across Southern Africa and beyond also marked the end of the Jubilee Year proclaimed by the late Pope Francis.

In his homily, Cardinal Brislin reflected on the meaning of the Jubilee, reminding the faithful that the end of the Jubilee year did not signal the end of hope. “To say that we have reached the end of the Year of Hope is not to say that our pilgrimage of hope is over,” he said. “Rather, we are now called to move from being pilgrims of hope to becoming apostles of hope.”

He stressed that hope is not something abstract or sentimental, but something lived and shared. “We are not meant to journey alone,” the cardinal said. “Our faith journey is one we walk together, and our hope is sustained by our relationship with God and with one another.”

Cardinal Brislin: Faith Must Be Lived

Cardinal Brislin warned against the dangers of a culture increasingly shaped by superficiality, materialism and misinformation. He noted that while many people search for meaning, fulfillment cannot be found in possessions or status. “The things of this world will pass away,” he said. “Our true and lasting hope is found only in God.”

The cardinal emphasised the importance of family life, particularly as the Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family on the same day. He described the family as the foundation of society and the primary place where faith is nurtured and passed on. “If families are strong, society will be strong,” he said, adding that parents have a vital responsibility to form their children in faith, not only through instruction but through example.

Reflecting on the theme of hope, Cardinal Brislin said Christians are called to be witnesses in a world marked by injustice, inequality and suffering. “To be an apostle of hope means to stand for human dignity, to speak out against injustice and to show compassion to those who are vulnerable, forgotten or marginalised,” he said.

He reminded the congregation that faith must be lived and not merely professed. “Our faith is not just a set of beliefs. It is a way of life. When we live with integrity, fidelity and love, we become instruments of hope in a world that desperately needs it.”

Conclusion of the Jubilee Year Worldwide

The celebration in Johannesburg formed part of a wider conclusion of the Jubilee Year across the Catholic Church. Across Southern Africa, dioceses including Cape Town, Pretoria, Tzaneen and Manzini also marked the close of the Jubilee with special liturgies and reflections on hope, renewal and mission.

Globally, the Jubilee Year has been drawing to a close with the ceremonial closing of the Holy Doors at Rome’s major basilicas. The first Holy Door to be closed was that of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on 25 December, with the rite presided over by Cardinal Archpriest Rolandas Makrickas. This was followed by the closing of the Holy Door at the Basilica of St John Lateran on 27 December, led by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina. On 28 December, the Holy Door of the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls was closed, with Cardinal Archpriest James Michael Harvey presiding.

The final and most significant closing will take place on 6 January, when Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Closure Rite and Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, officially bringing the Jubilee Year to an end on the Feast of the Epiphany.

At the Johannesburg celebration, Mr Ebo Quagraine, Regional Grand Knight of the Knights of the Gama in Gauteng, also spoke about the year that has been. He reflected on the Jubilee as a time of deep spiritual renewal and commitment to service. “To be a pilgrim of hope is to be someone who spreads love, peace and unity,” he said. “As Knights, our mission is to live out the values of the Gospel and to build the Kingdom of God through service.”

He added that the Jubilee had been a reminder that faith must be lived daily, beyond ceremonies and celebrations. “The work does not end here,” he said. “Wherever we go, we are called to continue spreading the love of Christ and to serve with humility and compassion.”

The Jubilee Year of Hope may have formally ended in Johannesburg, but the call to live as witnesses of hope, faith and love remains central to the life of the Church and its people.