Pouring rain did not stop Cardinal Cupich and the Archdiocese of Chicago from formally ushering in celebrations for the Jubilee of Hope during Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Dec. 29, 2024.
Before the start of Mass, Cardinal Cupich, who was joined by Auxiliary Bishops Robert Casey and Robert Lombardo, recited prayers to open the jubilee locally and a minister read part of the papal bull calling for the holy year.
Next, the cardinal led a procession to the altar and a commemoration of baptism. Bishops Lombardo and Casey then walked through the congregation and blessed everyone with holy water.
On Dec. 24, Pope Francis formally launched the jubilee year when he opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica has been a fixture of the Catholic Church’s celebration of jubilee years since the Holy Year 1450, according to the Vatican.
The faithful can receive a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to one of these churches during the jubilee year while fulfilling the necessary conditions. To learn more, visit pvm.archchicago.org/jubilee-2025.
Vicariate I
Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein
Prince of Peace, Lake Villa
Holy Cross, Deerfield
St. Anne, Barrington
Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights
St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview
Vicariate II
St. Clement, 642 W. Deming Place
St. Hyacinth Basilica, 3636 W. Wolfram St.
St. Mary of the Lake, 4200 N. Sheridan Road
Vicariate III
Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St.
St. Mary of Czestochowa, Cicero
St. Rita of Cascia, 6243 S. Fairfield Ave.
Vicariate IV
St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates
St. Matthew, Schaumburg
St. Francis Borgia, 8033 W. Addison St.
St. Francis of Assisi, 952 N. Kostner Ave.
St. John Vianney, Northlake
Vicariate V
St. Cletus, La Grange
St. Michael, Orland Park
Our Lady Mother of the Church Polish Mission, Willow Springs
Vicariate VI
St. Gianna Molla, Evergreen Park
St. Thomas the Apostle, 5472 S. Kimbark Ave.
St. Veronica, Flossmoor
This special jubilee, from Dec. 29, 2024, through Jan. 6, 2026, is a time for renewal, reflection and spiritual growth, offering Catholics an opportunity to deepen their faith and experience God’s grace in profound ways.
A holy year or jubilee is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, repentance and acts of mercy, based on the Old Testament tradition of a jubilee year of rest, forgiveness and renewal. Holy years also are a time when Catholics can make pilgrimages to designated churches and shrines, recite special prayers, go to confession and receive Communion to receive a plenary indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment due for one’s sins.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has identified 24 jubilee pilgrimage sites at local parishes for the faithful who cannot travel to Rome to obtain a plenary indulgence. At these sites, the faithful experience and obtain the indulgence by spending time in prayer, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament or participating in the celebration of the Eucharist or reconciliation or other scheduled liturgies, as well as making a profession of faith and praying for the pope’s intentions.
Unlike in previous jubilee years, the only holy doors that will be open are in Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Pope Francis also opened a holy door in Rome’s Rebibbia prison complex on Dec. 26, 2024.
In his homily, Cardinal Cupich said the Holy Family provides a good example of how to be pilgrims of hope.
“They are pilgrims. They are always seemingly on the move,” the cardinal said.
At all times, the Holy Family is filled with hope that God is with them on their journeys, he said.
“My hope and prayer is that we will all be changed as we take up our pilgrimage of hope, but it will also be an opportunity for change to take place in our families that they’ll grow stronger as we share our faith,” Cardinal Cupich said.
For more information, visit pvm.archchicago.org/jubilee-2025.