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Special Jubilee Issue |
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Welcome to the Office for Parish Life Newsletter! |
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Here are the resources you can use to bring the Jubilee "Year of Hope" to life in your parish! |
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"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'."
- Pope Francis, Spes Non Confundit |
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Approved by the Holy See on May 13, 2024 in eight languages, the Mass for the Holy Year may be used in the liturgy for the duration of the Jubilee, celebrated in the dioceses of the United States from December 29, 2024 to December 28, 2025.
It contains three formularies, a set of Lectionary readings, five sets of tropes for the Penitential Act, and four sets of introductions, responses, and conclusions for the Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful). |
| Mass for the Jubilee Year of Hope |
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Bishop Bambera has designated eight parishes as sacred sites, places of pilgrimage in the Diocese of Scranton at which the Jubilee Year plenary indulgence may be obtained.
The pilgrimage sites are places where the faithful are urged to visit, pray, and participate in liturgies and events throughout the Jubilee Year. |
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| Jubilee Guidelines for Receiving an Indulgence |
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What is the Message of Pope Francis for the Jubilee 2025? |
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“For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope."
"God's word helps us find reasons for that hope. Taking it as our guide, let us return to the message that the Apostle Paul wished to communicate to the Christians of Rome.” |
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| Read "Spes Non Confundit - Hope Does Not Disappoint" (Rm 5:5) |
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Bishop Bambera Opens
the Jubilee Year in Scranton |
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The Rite of Opening of the Jubilee Year was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Bambera on December 29, 2024. Gathering at the Narthex of the Cathedral, a reading was proclaimed from the Gospel of John (John 14:1-7), followed by reading the Bull of Indiction establishing the 2025 Jubilee, written by Pope Francis.
Bishop Bambera called for the assembly to venerate the cross, which was then carried to the baptismal font, where he blessed the water.
They processed to the altar to the Litany of the Saints, led by the Cross and the Book of the Gospels while Bishop Bambera sprinkled holy water on those assembled as a memorial of their baptism. |
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| Watch the Full Mass Here |
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USCCB Jubilee
Information Sheet |
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The USCCB's Jubilee 2025 information sheet serves as a guide for the faithful to participate in this special year of grace, encouraging us to deepen our faith, engage in prayer, and live out the message of hope and mercy. |
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| Click Here for the USCCB Jubilee Information Sheet |
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Jubilee Logo |
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The Logo shows four stylized figures to indicate all of humanity from the four corners of the earth. They each embrace one another, indicating the solidarity and brotherhood that must unite peoples. The first figure is clinging to the Cross. The underlying waves are choppy to indicate that the pilgrimage of life is not always on calm waters.
Because often personal circumstances and world events call for a greater sense of hope, a description of the Logo says, the lower part of the Cross is elongated turning into an anchor, which dominates the movement of the waves. Anchors often have been used as metaphors for hope.
The image shows how the pilgrim's journey is not individual, but rather communal, with the signs of a growing dynamism that moves more and more toward the Cross. |
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| Click Here for the Jubilee Logo |
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Official Jubilee Hymn
"Pilgrims of Hope" |
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Oftentimes, while walking along, a song will come to mind which really seems to express how we are feeling.
This is also true for the life of faith, which is a pilgrimage toward the light of the Risen Lord. The Sacred Scriptures are steeped in song, and the Psalms are a striking example: the prayers of the people of Israel were written to be sung, and it was in song that the most human events were presented before the Lord.
The tradition of the Church has continued this, making music and song one of the lungs of its liturgy.
The Jubilee, which in itself is expressed as an event of people on pilgrimage to the Holy Door, also uses song as one of the ways of expressing its motto, “Pilgrims of Hope”.
Many themes of the Holy Year are woven into the text written by Pierangelo Sequeri and set to music by Francesco Meneghello. |
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| Click Here for the Jubilee Hymn |
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| June 7, 2025 Pilgrimage |
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Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton & the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
Early Bird Registration by April 30th $30 per person
Regular Registration by May 22nd
$40 per person
Registration Includes:
- Round-Trip Charter Bus Transportation
- Breakfast & Lunch
- Mass
- Tour of Shrine & Time at Grotto
- And more! |
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| Click Here to Learn More or to Register |
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Sacrament of Reconciliation
Brings Hope During the Jubilee |
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The Sacrament of Reconciliation is where the redeeming love and mercy of Jesus Christ meets us personally and brings forgiveness of our sins. May this Jubilee be a time of immersing ourselves in this great Sacrament of Hope!
Confessions will be heard at every parish in our diocese on Monday, April 7 from 5:30-7:00 PM.
Check your parish website for other confession times. |
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Upcoming Diocesan
Pilgrimage |
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The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, has been named as a special place of pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year. The designation, made by the USCCB, will enable pilgrims to gain an indulgence during the Year of Jubilee.
The official Jubilee Hymn, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ was recorded at the Basilica.
The Diocese of Scranton will be making a pilgrimage to the Basilica during the Jubilee Year. Stay tuned to the Good News Notes for more information! |
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Make This Jubilee a Time
of Spiritual Renewal |
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George Weigel offers suggestions on how we might cooperate with God's grace to make this Jubilee a time of spiritual renewal in the Catholic Church. |
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| Read the Full Article |
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USCCB Jubilee
Calendar of Celebrations |
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The USCCB has assembled a downloadable calendar for the Jubilee Holy Year 2025.
This one page overview contains information on the month-to-month celebrations of various communities, ministries, and focus areas raised up as part of the Jubilee theme, "Pilgrims of Hope." |
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| Click Here for the Calendar of Celebrations |
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