Local stories, events, and Catholic inspiration in northeast Wisconsin

Pilgrims of hope

By Bishop David Ricken | On Mission

Do you feel it? There is hope in the air!

No, not hope around our favorite football team, in politics or the economy… as Christians, our hope is firmly rooted in a person — Jesus Christ! 

And this new year of 2025, we are asked by the church to embrace and stir up hope in our lives and in the world in a particular way. I invite every person living in the Diocese of Green Bay, in unison with the Universal Church across the world, to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025 (the 2025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord), entitled “Jubilee of Hope.”

A Jubilee Year, celebrated every 25 years, is a special time of prayer and reflection on our Lord and his coming into the world to save us from sin and death. This saving act of Jesus cannot be celebrated enough! Our hope is in Jesus, and daily, we ought to be thanking him for the hope and salvation that only the Son of God can bring to our lives and broken world.

In 2022, Pope Francis first announced this Jubilee Year saying, “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and farsighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.” 

The Holy Spirit inspired the Holy Father to announce this year of hope, and our world needs hope in a profound way.

You are probably familiar with the popular Jubilee tradition of the opening of the Holy Doors. Pope Francis began the Jubilee Year opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2024. Other holy doors will be opened at the Rome basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls.

While no other Holy Doors will be designated, I will designate special places of prayer for Holy Year pilgrims in our diocese (especially for those unable to travel to Rome). I am designating St. Francis Xavier Cathedral (Green Bay), The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion and St. Pius X Catholic Church (Appleton) as special Jubilee destinations for pilgrims within and outside our diocese. These church locations are special places of prayer, reconciliation and indulgences to help revive and strengthen our faith. 

If you feel your hope is challenged, I encourage you to make a pilgrimage to these special locations and pray for an outpouring of hope and grace in your lives, those you love and throughout the world. We desperately need the hope and peace that only Christ can provide.

An invitation I will be offering to our diocese in this Jubilee of Hope is to revive and foster our faith, hope and trust in Jesus in the most holy Eucharist. By building on the graces of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage that came through our diocese and the National Eucharistic Congress in July of last year, we will deepen our journey with the Eucharist by consecrating ourselves to the Eucharist in 2025. A wonderful new book, “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory” by Matthew Kelly, will provide a wonderful means to assist us in preparing for and consecrating ourselves to the eucharistic Lord. 

Why a eucharistic consecration in the Jubilee of Hope? Jesus Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity fully present in the Eucharist is the sign and reason for our hope. Jesus in the Eucharist inspires me every day to follow him more closely and to listen to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit throughout the day. Let us all consecrate ourselves to Christ in the Eucharist to more fully enter into union with Our Lord. You will hear more about this over the next several weeks.

There are so many opportunities and ways to celebrate this Holy Year. To access the Jubilee Year prayer and for a wide array of resources, events and information on the Jubilee year, please go to the Vatican and USCCB websites dedicated to the Jubilee year. (www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html and www.usccb.org/committees/jubilee-2025)

Lord, as we enter into this Jubilee Year of Hope, may you enkindle within our hearts a passionate hope that is firmly and solely centered on you alone. When the world seems dark and confusing, may we turn to you in prayer and seek the hope that only you can provide. Jesus, we place all our trust in you!

Scroll to Top