Pope Francis announced 2025 as the “Jubilee Year of Hope” on the Christmas Eve of 2024. The
Holy Farther made the official statement by symbolically opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s
Basilica in the Vatican. “In this season of grace and reconciliation grant that we may put our trust in your mercy alone and discover once more the way that leads to the Father,” the Holy Father said during the rite of the opening of the Holy Door. The opening of the door according to KCCB, “symbolizes an invitation to enter to Jesus Christ in communion so that you can draw the graces he has won for us on the cross.”
Normally, the Jubilee year is celebrated every 25 years with this year themed “Year of Hope”,
where Christians of catholic faith are called to be pilgrims of hope, spreading the message to
their communities. They are also called to embrace this year’s declaration and thrive to cushion their faith and seek reconciliation. In Kenya, the celebration was marked by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus Van Mergen at the Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi. The Nuncio reminded the faithful to remain steadfast in courage as they anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises. “This Jubilee Year of Prayer invites us all to rediscover the joy of meeting the Lord, to deepen our relationship with Him, and to recommit ourselves to the mission of bringing His hope to the world,” Van Mergen said.
While giving a press brief and to expound on the Jubilee Year, Kenya Conference of Catholic
Bishops (KCCB) led by the vice chairman and the Archbishop of Nyeri Archdiocese, Anthony
Muheria says, “Jubilee years are years of special graces where the church pours out its bounty so that the Christians can benefit in a special way.”
Archbishop Muheria says that their boat has set voyage and as a church, they are ready to deliver
hope to those who are in hopeless and difficult situation and remind them about hope that Jesus
Christ is. He says that the main aim of the celebration is to give opportunities for graces and invitation to
meet Christ. “The aim is to offer graces in all their forms to the Christians.” Muheria continues, “So that
people can have easier access to the sacrament through that of reconciliation and celebration of
the Blessed Eucharist (Communion).” He also observed the access to sacrament of anointing of the sick, matrimony which also give
people chance to partake in the well of salvation. The Nyeri Archbishop also called on Christians to be pilgrims and offer to others, the graces that the church give them.
“We will have devotional practices where we will have a pilgrimage, listen to the word of God,
celebrate the Eucharist, special moment for reconciliation and assist people who are discouraged and need Jesus Christ to reach more close to them,” he asserted.
Rt. Rev. Wallace Ng’ang’a who is KCCB communication chairman and the bishop of military ordinariate of Kenya, called on the use of media technology to help in evangelization and ensure Christians all over Kenya are informed. “We call upon the agents of evangelization and the universal church to collaborate and make sure
the information on the Jubilee Year of Hope is disseminated to every member of the church,”
Ng’ang’a stated.
