In the Mumbai Province, the Adorers communities of Karwar (India) and Angeles (Philippines) participated in events marking the opening of the Jubilee 2025.
The Beginning of the Jubilee in the Diocese of Karwar, Mumbai
On December 29, 2024, the Diocese of Karwar, in Mumbai, India, inaugurated the Jubilee Year 2025 with a solemn ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Kajubag, Karwar. The celebration, presided over by Bishop Duming Dias, gathered faithful, priests, and religious sisters in a deeply moving event of faith.
The inauguration began with the Adoration of the Holy Cross, followed by a procession, symbolizing the path of faith and gratitude for past blessings. Accompanied by 11 priests and religious sisters, the bishop led the ceremony, emphasizing the central role of the Cross in Christian life.
Upon reaching the baptismal font, Bishop Dias blessed the faithful with holy water, a gesture of renewal and commitment to live by the values of the Gospel throughout this Jubilee Year.
A Time of Reconciliation, Grace, and Gratitude
During his homily, Bishop Dias highlighted the importance of the Jubilee as a time of reconciliation, grace, and gratitude. He encouraged the faithful to embrace this opportunity for profound spiritual growth.
Blessing of the Holy Door in Angeles, Philippines
On January 5, 2025, the Adorers community in Angeles, accompanied by several laypeople, visited the Apung Mamacalulu Shrine in Angeles City, Philippines. This shrine was designated as one of the Doors of Hope within the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, allowing pilgrims to obtain plenary indulgence during the Jubilee by fulfilling the required spiritual conditions.
Religious sisters and laypeople attended the Holy Door blessing ceremony, and the Eucharist was celebrated by Father Nolasco, the parish priest of the shrine. At the entrance, the church and all attendees were blessed with holy water.
After the Eucharist, as a sign of their participation in this significant event, attendees received the seal of having crossed the First Holy Door in the pilgrimage church calendar for the Jubilee 2025, along with the Jubilee Prayer.
A Year of Celebrations and Hope
The inauguration of the Jubilee in the Mumbai Province not only marked the beginning of a special liturgical year, but also reflected the unity and faith of the dioceses. These events pave the way for a year filled with spiritual and community activities, aimed at embodying the central message of the Jubilee: hope in God and the renewal of trust.
Across the entire Adorers Congregation, we continue walking in this Jubilee Year 2025 with gratitude, commitment, and faith, remembering that we are pilgrims of hope in a world that longs for light and love.
What is the Jubilee 2025?
The Jubilee 2025, convened by the Catholic Church under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, is a time of grace, dedicated to reconciliation, conversion, and spiritual renewal. Celebrated every 25 years, the Jubilee is an invitation to deepen faith, live God’s mercy, and strengthen our commitment to the Gospel.
In May 2024, Pope Francis introduced the Jubilee Year 2025 through the Papal Bull Spes Non Confundit (“Hope Does Not Disappoint”), inspired by Romans 5:5. In the Bull, the Holy Father emphasized that this Jubilee will be a Holy Year characterized by unwavering hope, praying that it will help us “restore the necessary trust – in the Church and in society – in interpersonal relationships, in international affairs, in the promotion of human dignity, and in the respect for creation” (SNC n. 25).
The Jubilee 2025 will be celebrated from December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026. Throughout the year, both in Rome and in dioceses worldwide, various celebrations, liturgical acts, and charitable activities will take place, inviting the faithful to renew their relationship with God and others.
