by Deacon Dana Nearmyer
How is your Jubilee?
The Jubilee ends on Jan. 6, 2026. The Holy Door will be sealed. Pope Francis outlined very clearly what is needed to unlock the treasures of the Jubilee when he opened it on Dec. 24, 2024. He certainly said the Holy Doors of Rome and other intentional pilgrimages are options, but he also opened much simpler pathways to these treasures.
According to the Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 issued by the Holy See, the jubilee plenary indulgence “can also be obtained through initiatives that put into practice, in a concrete and generous way . . . especially in support of the defense and protection of life in all its phases, but also by supporting the quality of life of abandoned children, young people in difficulty, the needy or lonely elderly people or migrants from various countries ‘who leave their homelands behind in search of a better life for themselves and for their families’ (“Spes non confundit,” the Bull of Indiction for the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, no. 13).
Archbishop Shawn McKnight is encouraging the faithful to engage in acts of mercy that inspire hope, and this can be more fully understood by reading Pope Francis’s “The Joy of the Gospel.” The Lord himself in Matthew’s Gospel directs us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the ill and those in prison. He further says whatever you do to the least of these, you have done to him (25:31-46). The directions for Jubilee state that a plenary indulgence may be attained by visiting, for an appropriate amount of time, those who are in need or in difficulty (the sick, prisoners, the lonely among the elderly, disabled people, etc.); in a sense, making a pilgrimage to Christ who is present in them (cf. Mt 25: 34-36), as well as also fulfilling the general conditions of receiving any indulgence; the faithful can repeat these visits throughout the Holy Year, even daily, acquiring a plenary indulgence for each time.
Jubilees are a time of renewal, forgiveness and an invitation to engage in works that are important to God, work that unites us with the heart of Jesus. It is a grand call to prioritize our sanctification and service to God each day of our lives, by building godly habits and virtues.
Catholic Charities, our retirement facilities, Prairie Star Ranch and the Catholic Education Foundation serve vulnerable persons and communities every day. Almsgiving and volunteering in these important ministries are great ways to engage in the Jubilee.
The archdiocesan Jubilee webpage outlines the ways to engage the Jubilee at: https://archkck.org/jubilee.
