Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

What is the Jubilee?

The Jubilee Year was originally intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields. The concept of “Jubilee” has its origins in the Book of Leviticus as a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming home.

Today, Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope.”

As “Pilgrims of Hope,” we are asked to carry hope in our heart, and bring hope to others. There are many ways to participate in the Jubilee Year, including right here in the Diocese of Venice!

How can I participate in the Jubilee?

Catholics in Southwest Florida can celebrate and participate in the 2025 Jubilee by making a special pilgrimage to Rome or designated shrine in the United States, or by engaging in local Jubilee activities right here in the Diocese of Venice.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane has designated five Jubilee Pilgrimage Sites in the Diocese of Venice. By visiting one of the Pilgrimage Sites in the Diocese and participating in its offerings of Mass, Adoration, Confession, or other activities, one can celebrate the Jubilee, and gain the Jubilee’s plenary indulgence.

A variety of other special Jubilee celebration opportunities will be offered throughout the Diocese, which will be regularly listed and updated here.

5 Jubilee
Pilgrimage
Sites in the

Epiphany Cathedral
310 Sarasota St., Venice

St. John the Evangelist
Parish
625 111th Avenue N., Naples


St. John XXIII Parish 13060 Palomino Ln., Fort Myers	St. Paul Parish 1330 East Oak St., Arcadia	Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center 3989 South Moon Dr., Venice

What are the Holy Doors?

The Holy Door is perhaps the most powerful sign of the Jubilee, since the ultimate aim of the pilgrim is to pass through it. The opening of the door by the Pope constitutes the official beginning of the Holy Year. Originally, there was only one door, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. Later, to allow as many pilgrims as possible to take part in the Jubilee experience, the other Roman Basilicas also opened their own Holy Doors. These Holy Doors, all located in Rome, are the only Holy Doors of the Jubilee.

In crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, the pilgrim is reminded of the passage from chapter 10 of St John’s gospel: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Passing through the Holy Door expresses the decision to follow and be guided by Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd.

Traveling to Rome?

If you are headed to Rome for the Jubilee Holy Year, the Bishops’ Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican, sponsored by the Pontifical North American College and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, provides information to help you plan your Rome pilgrimage so that it may be a truly prayerful experience.

Additionally, be mindful of the new visa requirements (linked here) for U.S. citizens (and others) entering the European Union, starting in 2025. For those from other countries (outside the U.S.) who need additional visas for travel to Europe, note the special Jubilee tourism visa process (linked here).

What is the Jubilee Indulgence?

The Jubilee Indulgence is a concrete manifestation of God’s mercy and is a gift of grace specific to the Holy Year.

An Indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin. It is not a forgiveness of sin — Confession is a necessary part of any Indulgence — but the remission of punishment for sins already forgiven. It may apply either to oneself or to those who have gone before us.

“. . . a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy . . . ” Pope Francis

This treasury of grace entered human history in the witness of Jesus and the saints, and by living in communion with them our hope for our own forgiveness is strengthened and becomes a certainty.

The Jubilee Indulgence allows us to free our hearts from the weight of sin because the reparation due for our sins is given freely and abundantly.

For further information, review the “Indulgences” section (nos. 1471 to 1479) of The Catechism of the Catholic Church, available online here.

How do I gain an Indulgence?

Pilgrimage

The Apostolic Penitentiary’s Decree on the Granting of the Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 indicates that the Faithful may obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if they undertake a pilgrimage or pious visit to a Jubilee Site, including those designated by their Bishop. The person seeking the Indulgence must participate in Holy Mass or any of the following: celebration of the Word of God, Liturgy of the Hours, Way of the Cross, Marian Rosary, or a penitential celebration, which ends with individual Confession.

Pious Visit to Sacred Places

Likewise, the faithful can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if, individually or in a group, they devoutly visit any Jubilee site and there, for a suitable period of time, engage in Eucharistic Adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith, and invocations to Mary, the Mother of God, so that in this Holy Year everyone “will come to know the closeness of Mary, the most affectionate of mothers, who never abandons her children” (Spes non confundit, 24).

Additional Requirements

Further requirements to obtain an Indulgence are that the person be detached from sin and repentant, receive the Sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. These conditions may be met at a Jubilee Site or one’s own Parish but should be done on the same day or within a few days of the act of Indulgence. An Indulgence may be obtained more than once, but only once per day.

The Importance of Penance in a Jubilee Year

The Jubilee Indulgence may also be obtained through initiatives that put into practice the spirit of penance which is, in a sense, the soul of the Jubilee.

The Diocese of Venice will offer additional, Diocesan-wide times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent. Confession will be offered throughout the Diocese on Friday, April 11 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and on Saturday, April 12 from 9:00 am until noon.

Additional examples of putting into practice the spirit of penance include carrying out more frequent works of charity and mercy. An Indulgence may be obtained, for example, by means of a visit, for an appropriate amount of time, to our brothers and sisters who are in need or in difficulty, in a sense making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them. More examples include:

Abstaining at least one day a week from futile distraction, such as social media or television
By donating a proportionate sum of money to the poor
By supporting works of a religious or social nature, especially in defense and protection of life in all its phases
Supporting the quality of life of young people in difficulty, the needy or lonely elderly people
Dedicating a reasonable portion of free time to volunteer activities that are of service to the community

Additional Opportunities to Participate in the Jubilee in the Diocese of Venice

Jubilee Monthly Days of Prayer March 5 (Ash Wednesday), March 9 (First Sunday of Lent)

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice, a Diocesan Jubilee Year 2025 Pilgrimage Site, is hosting Jubilee Monthly Days of Prayer on March 5 (Ash Wednesday), and March 9 (the First Sunday of Lent). The presentation is titled “Food for the Journey: The Eucharist as the New Manna from Heaven,” and will be offered by Father Greg Cleveland, OMV. Register at www.olph-retreat.org (click on “Schedule of Events”).

Youth Jubilee Adoration Nights March 22 and May 2

Youth Jubilee Adoration Nights present young Catholics the opportunity to take part in group Eucharistic Adoration as part of the Jubilee Year. The evenings include prayer and conclude with Benediction. There will also be the opportunity to take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. While these special Youth Jubilee Adoration Nights are geared toward younger Catholics, with youth-centric music and talks, all are welcome. Each Adoration Night is 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Remaining opportunities to participate are Saturday, March 22, St. Patrick Parish, 7900 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota and Friday, May 2, St. Paul Parish, 1330 E. Oak. St., Arcadia. There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested, please click here. For more information, contact Andres Prias, 941-441-1122.

Twenty-Four Hours for the Lord March 28

On March 28 during the Jubilee Year, the Holy Father has asked that Churches observe the 24 Hours for the Lord event. Many Parishes in the Diocese of Venice will observe this day, offering 24 consecutive hours of Adoration, and additional times for the Sacrament of Confession. Check with your local Parish!

Eucharistic Conference in Diocese of Venice March 29

As part of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival called for by the Bishops of the United States, and part of the Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Venice will host its third Eucharistic Conference March 29, 2025, at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda. The theme for the daylong event is “Becoming Eucharistic Missionaries” and it offers an opportunity to celebrate your Catholic faith with others and be inspired during this Jubilee Year. The Eucharistic Conference will feature dynamic presentations by nationally renowned Catholic speakers including Scott and Kimberly Hahn, Mary Ann Wiesinger-Puig, and Andrés Arango. There will also be breakout sessions in Spanish. The event will include Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane. In addition, there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the opportunity for Confession, as well as Catholic vendors and exhibitors. Cost to attend is $35 per person and includes lunch. Registration is now open, and space is limited. To learn more, or to register, click here. For more information, contact Jim Gontis at 941-486-4754.

Jubilee Year of Hope Retreat April 11-13 (Palm Sunday Weekend)

A Path to Healing Your Broken Heart with Fr. Shawn Monahan, OMV

This Jubilee, let us walk together on the journey of healing, restoring our hearts and preparing ourselves to receive Christ with open arms. Surrender your brokenness to Jesus, trusting in His ability to heal and restore. Through prayer and reflection, explore the parts of your heart that need healing. Experience spiritual renewal and rediscover the peace and joy that Christ brings in this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Fr. Shawn Monahan, OMV is an experienced guide who has a passion for helping others heal the wounds that come from living in a broken world so that they may experience a more abundant life in Christ. The retreat begins Friday, 3:00 p.m. and continues through Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Register on the OLPH website www.olph-retreat.org (click on “Schedule of Events”).

Additional Opportunities to Participate in the Jubilee in the United States

National Shrines and Pilgrimage Sites

Formed in 1990 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Association of Shrine and Pilgrimage Apostolate (NASPA) is an association of shrines that have been designated as national Catholic shrines or that have been designated diocesan shrines. Those not able to pilgrimage to Rome may also obtain a Jubilee Indulgence by making a pious pilgrimage to a sacred Jubilee site, including those identified in your Diocese by your Bishop, or any national minor basilica, Marian sanctuary, or national sanctuary.

View U.S. Shrine Holy Sites

For More Information About the Jubilee Holy Year

For more information about the Jubilee Holy, visit the official Jubilee websites of the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), accessible via the buttons below.

Celebrating the Jubilee Year