We here in the Diocese of Brooklyn begin the Jubilee of Hope by celebrating the Solemnity of the Holy Family. These are two significant celebrations in our faith, each carrying profound spiritual meaning and offering opportunities for reflection, renewal, and community.

The Solemnity of the Holy Family, celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas, honors Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a model for all Christian families. This feast highlights the virtues of love, faith, and obedience that characterized the Holy Family’s life. It serves as a reminder of the importance of family in the Christian faith and encourages families to emulate the Holy Family’s example of mutual support, respect, and devotion to God.

The Holy Family’s story is one of humility and simplicity. Despite their humble circumstances, they lived a life of profound faith and trust in God’s plan. Mary and Joseph’s acceptance of their roles in God’s salvation plan, despite the challenges they faced, exemplifies their unwavering faith and obedience. Jesus’ upbringing in this environment of love and faith prepared Him for His mission on earth.

The Jubilee of Hope, proclaimed by Pope Francis for the year 2025, is a special Holy Year that invites Catholics worldwide to renew their faith and embrace hope. This Jubilee comes at a time when the world is recovering from various crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and facing ongoing challenges such as social division and environmental concerns. The theme “Pilgrims of Hope” reflects the call to journey together in faith, seeking renewal and transformation.

A Jubilee year in the Catholic tradition is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, repentance, and acts of mercy. It is rooted in the biblical concept of a jubilee year, which was a time of rest, forgiveness, and renewal (Leviticus 25). The Jubilee of Hope encourages us to make pilgrimages to designated churches and shrines, participate in special prayers, and engage in acts of charity and mercy. This year our diocesan Lenten pilgrimage theme is “Pilgrims of Hope.” By visiting our pilgrimages churches this Lent us are fostering spiritual growth and strengthening our community’s bonds.

The Feast of the Holy Family and the Jubilee of Hope are deeply interconnected. The Holy Family serves as a beacon of hope and a model of faithfulness, qualities that are central to the Jubilee’s theme. As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, we are reminded of the importance of family as the foundation of faith and hope. The Holy Family’s example inspires us to live out our faith in our daily lives, fostering hope within our families and communities.

The Jubilee of Hope, beginning today on the Solemnity of the Holy Family, underscores this connection. It invites God’s People to start the Jubilee year by reflecting on the Holy Family’s virtues and seeking to embody these virtues in their own lives.  The dedication to the Holy Family we will pray at Mass highlights the role of the family in nurturing hope and faith.

Pope Francis’ call to be “Pilgrims of Hope” during the Jubilee year is a powerful invitation to embrace hope as a guiding force in our lives. In his announcement, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of hope in overcoming the challenges of our time. He encouraged the faithful to look for signs of God’s grace and goodness in the world, even amidst difficulties. The Jubilee of Hope is an opportunity to renew our commitment to living out the Gospel message. It calls us to engage in acts of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. These acts of charity are tangible expressions of hope and love, reflecting the Holy Family’s example of selfless service and devotion.

As we prepare to process from St. James Cathedral to St. Joseph Co-Cathedral on the Solemnity of the Holy Family, we begin our journey as “Pilgrims of Hope.”  We are called to reflect on the virtues of faith, hope, and love that the Holy Family exemplified. This time of celebration and renewal invites us to strengthen our families and communities, fostering a spirit of hope and unity. By living as “Pilgrims of Hope,” we can navigate the challenges of our time with faith and resilience, drawing inspiration from the Holy Family’s unwavering trust in God’s plan. Let us embrace this Jubilee year with open hearts, seeking to grow in faith and hope, and to share these gifts with those around us. Through our actions and prayers, we can contribute to a world that reflects the love and mercy of God, just as the Holy Family did.