2025 has been designated as the Jubilee Year of Hope. At the conclusion of the Pope’s Papal Bull declaring the Jubilee Year he tell us:
The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God. May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation. May the witness of believers be for our world a leaven of authentic hope, a harbinger of new heavens and a new earth, where men and women will dwell in justice and harmony, in joyful expectation of the fulfillment of the Lord’s promises.
Let us even now be drawn to this hope! Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. May the way we live our lives say to them in so many words: “Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!” May the power of hope fill our days, as we await with confidence the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and glory, now and forever.
We are also reminded that:
Pilgrimage is of course a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life. In the coming year, pilgrims of hope will surely travel the ancient and more modern routes in order to experience the Jubilee to the full.
In his first paragraph he further states that:
My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope who will travel to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those others who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local Churches. For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope”
If you would like to read the Papal Bull in full you can do so here.
If you are privileged to make a pilgrimage to Rome this year, please keep us in your prayers. While you are there you may wish to visit the Basilica of San Silvestro. This Basilica houses the Statue of Mary, the Mother of Hope. For those of us unable to make a pilgrimage to Rome, we may still participate by making pilgrimages here in our own country and dioceses. Please find below some churches that have been specially dedicated as places of pilgrimage.
JUBILEE CATHEDRALS AND SHRINES AROUND NSW
While there are only five Holy Doors, at St Peters, St John Lateran, St Mary Major, St Paul Outside the Wall, and at a prison in Rome, The Holy Father, has decreed that the faithful will be able to receive a Plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage or visiting any Cathedral or other sacred place as designated by the local Bishop. The decree can be read here. Below we have compiled a list of Cathedrals and places designated by their Bishop as special Jubilee shrines.
SYDNEY ARCHDIOCESE
St Mary’s Cathedral
Address: St Marys Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
St Patrick’s Church, Church Hill
Address: 20 Grosvenor St, The Rocks NSW 2000
The Shrine of St Mary of the Cross, North Sydney
Address: 7 Mount St, North Sydney NSW 2060
The Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Waterloo
Address: 2 Kellick St, Waterloo NSW 2017
St Brigid’s Church, Coogee
Address: 135B Brook St, Coogee NSW 2034
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Randwick
Address: 193 Avoca St, Randwick NSW 2031
St Anne’s Church, Bondi Beach
Address: 47 Mitchell St, North Bondi NSW 2026
All Saints Catholic Church, Liverpool
Address: 48 George St, Liverpool NSW 2170
Holy Spirit Church, Carnes Hill
Address: 25 Main St, Horningsea Park NSW 2171
St Joachim’s Church, Lidcombe
Address: 2 Mills St, Lidcombe NSW 2141
St Brigid’s Church, Marrickville
Address: 392 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
St Catherine Laboure Church, Gymea
Address: 123 Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea NSW 2227
BROKEN BAY DIOCESE
Hornsby Cathedral
Address: 23 Yardley Avenue, Waitara 2077
The Parish of Manly Freshwater
The Parish of Manly Freshwater will host the Relic of St John Vianney. This Shrine will be dedicated as a Shrine of Hope for Priests and Vocations.
Address: 6 Raglan Street, Manly NSW 2095
The Parish of Gosford
The Parish of Gosford will host the Relic of St John Paul II. This Shrine will be dedicated as a Shrine of Hope for Families.
Address: 76 York St, East Gosford NSW 2250
The Parish of Chatswood
The Parish of Chatswood will host the Relic of Bl Carlo Acutis. This Shrine will be dedicated as a Shrine of Hope for Young People.
Address: 94 Archer St, Chatswood 2057
PARRAMATTA DIOCESE
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Address: 1 Marist Place, Parramatta NSW 2150.
Francisan Shrine of the Holy Innocents, Kellyville
Address: 8 Greyfriar Place, Kellyville NSW 2155
Mount Schoenstatt Shrine, Mulgoa
Address: 230 Fairlight Road, Mulgoa NSW 2745
WOLLONGONG DIOCESE
St Francis Xavier Cathedral
Bishop Brian will attend this diocesan pilgrimage site at 12:00pm (after Reconciliation) on Saturday 22 March 2025 and at 10:30am on Sunday 27 July 2025 to impart the papal blessing.
Address: 36 Harbour St, Wollongong, NSW 2500
Immaculate Conception Parish, Unanderra
Bishop Brian will attend this diocesan pilgrimage site on Saturday 15 March 2025 to impart the papal blessing.
Address: 48-50 Princes Highway, Unanderra NSW 2526
Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Rosemeadow
Bishop Brian will attend this diocesan pilgrimage site on Saturday 7 June 2025 to impart the papal blessing.
Address: 80 Demetrius Rd, Rosemeadow NSW 2560
St Mary Star of the Sea Parish, Milton
Bishop Brian will attend this diocesan pilgrimage site on Saturday 15 November 2025 to impart the papal blessing.
Address: Lot 1 Corks Lane, Milton NSW 2538
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kangaroo Valley
Bishop Brian will attend this diocesan pilgrimage site on Saturday 30 August 2025 to impart the papal blessing.
Address: 130 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577
Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy, Penrose Park
Address: 120 Hanging Rock Road, Sutton Forest, NSW, 2577
MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE DIOCESE
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newcastle West
Address: 841 Hunter St, Newcastle West NSW 2303
St Mary Star of the Sea, Newcastle
Address: 54 Perkins Street, Newcastle NSW 2300
St John the Baptist Shrine, Maitland
Address: 8 Cathedral St, Maitland NSW 2320
St Joseph’s, East Maitland
Address: 73 King St, East Maitland, NSW, 2323
St Joseph’s, Murrurundi
Address: 59 Polding St, Murrurundi NSW 2338
Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Peace, Scone
Address: 86 Park St, Scone, NSW, 2337
Saints Patrick & Brigid, Cooranbong
Address: 6 Martinsville Rd, Cooranbong NSW 2265
LISMORE DIOCESE
St Carthage’s Cathedral
Address: 8 Leycester St, Lismore NSW 2480
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Murwillumbah
Address: 143 Murwillumbah St, Murwillumbah NSW 2484
St Augustine’s Church, Coffs Harbour
12 Gordon St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
St Agnes’ Church, Port Macquaire
Address: 47 Hay St, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
CANBERRA-GOULBURN ARCHDIOCESE
St Christopher’s Cathedral
Address: Corner of Canberra Avenue and, Furneaux St, Forrest ACT 2603
St Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral, Goulburn
Address: Verner St & Bourke Street, Goulburn NSW 2580
St Clement’s Retreat Centre, Galong
Address: Kalangan Rd, Galong NSW 2585
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Eden
Address: 86 Calle Calle St, Eden NSW 2551
ARIMDALE DIOCESE
Saints Mary & Joseph Cathedral
Address: 132 Dangar Street, Armidale
BATHURST DIOCESE
St Michael and St John Cathedral
Address: Cnr William and, Keppel St, Bathurst NSW 2795
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Carcoar
Address: Collins St, Carcoar NSW 2791
St John’s Church, Baradine
Address: 17 Queen St, Baradine NSW 2396
WILLCANIA-FORBES DIOCESE
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral
Address: 230 Lane St, Broken Hill NSW 2880
WAGGA WAGGA DIOCESE
St Michael’s Cathedral
Address: 10 Church St, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
St Patrick’s Church, Albury
Address: 515 Smollett St, Albury NSW 2640
Sacred Heart Church, Griffith
Address: 1 Warrambool Street, Griffith NSW, Griffith 2680
St Joseph Church, Leeton
Address: Wade Avenue South, Leeton NSW 2705
St Mel’s Church, Narrandera
Address: 71 Audley St, Narrandera NSW 2700
St Mary MacKillop’s Marker
On the Lincoln Causeway near the railway overpass in Albury
The Mass Tree, Wahgunyah
Address: Reserve Rd, Wahgunyah VIC 3687
MARONITE EPARCHY OF AUSTRALIA
St Maroun’s Cathedral, Redfern
Address: 627 Elizabeth St, Redfern NSW 2016
Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral, Harris Park
Address: 40/46 Alice St, Harris Park NSW 2150
St Charbel’s Church, Punchbowl
Address: 142 Highclere Ave, Punchbowl NSW 2196
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Prayer to Mary, Mother of Hope
O Mary, Mother of Hope,
guide and strengthen your children
who are struggling
with the difficulties
and disappointments of life.
Help us to keep our trust in God
and never despair of His help,
no matter how great
our suffering may be.
You who stood by the Cross of Jesus,
be with us in our times of sorrow, and
through your motherly intercession,
gives us the hope and courage
to struggle on in the face of
all life’s sorrows, failures and betrayals.
Save us from the sin of despair,
and grant your protection especially
to those who are
depressed or suicidal,
to those who are frightened,
and to all those who are
overburdened by the
problems and sorrows of life.
Hail Mary, full of grace …
Mother of Hope, pray for us!
LINKS TO DIOCESAN JUBILEE INFORMATION
SYDNEY, BROKEN BAY, PARRAMATTA, WOLLONGONG, MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE, LISMORE, CANBERRA-GOULBURN, BATHURST, WAGGA WAGGA, MARONITE EPARCHY