East Anglia: Jubilee Year begins with special Mass

Image: Keith Morris

Source: Diocese of East Anglia

The Jubilee Year of 2025 was officially started by Bishop Peter Collins with an Opening Procession and Mass at St John's Cathedral in Norwich on Sunday, 29 December.

Bishop Peter joined bishops in Catholic dioceses across the world who were asked by Pope Francis to celebrate the Opening of the Jubilee Year at their cathedrals that day.

The Rite began in the Cathedral Narthex with the singing of the Jubilee Year hymn - Pilgrims of Hope - which is also the theme of the year.

Bishop Peter said at the opening: "In fellowship with the universal Church, we solemnly open the Jubilee Year. This rite is, for us, the prelude to a rich experience of grace and mercy - we are ready always to respond to whoever asks the reason for the hope that is in us, especially in this time of war and disorder. May Christ, our peace and our hope, be our companion on the journey in this year of grace and consolation."

A Papal Bull of Indiction - Spes non confunfit ("Hope does not disappoint" [Rom 5:5]), was then read out. In it, Pope Francis writes: "Hope is the central message of the coming Jubilee that, in accordance with an ancient tradition, the Pope proclaims every 25 years. 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" (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as "our hope" (1 Tim 1:1).

"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!" (Ps 27:14). 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."

Click here to read the full Papal Bull.

A solemn procession then began to the west door of the Cathedral, where Bishop Peter held high the special cross of former Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt Rev Michael Evans, which will be at the centre of much of the Jubilee celebrations across the diocese.

Bishop Peter then led a procession, including the whole congregation, inside the cathedral for Mass.

During his homily, Bishop Peter said: "The Holy Father calls us to be 'Pilgrims of Hope' in the midst of the world; calls us to a fresh and genuine encounter with the Lord Jesus, who is the 'door' of our salvation (Jn.10:7.9). The hope we speak of is no mere optimism, it is the serene gift that confronts and conquers all pessimism and cynicism. The hope we speak of fosters that patience which addresses the frenetic haste of a world that has lost its way.

"Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve to inaugurate the Jubilee Year," said Bishop Peter. "Whilst the faithful are encouraged to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome during a Year of Jubilee, the vast majority will be unable to travel. Therefore, each diocese has been empowered to designate its own Cathedral Church as a location for Jubilee pilgrimage, together with one other named site. I have nominated the Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady at Walsingham as the second location for our own diocese. By undertaking a Jubilee pilgrimage the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence whilst fulfilling the established norms.

"In January I will be journeying to Rome on pilgrimage, accompanied by ecumenical leaders from our region, including the Bishop of Norwich. We will encounter the Holy Father and hold meetings with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. I will again make pilgrimage to Rome in July when I will be leading our diocesan pilgrimage for Young People. Over 30 young adults have already committed themselves to this journey and I call upon others to consider joining our joyful project. A full itinerary of diocesan Jubilee celebrations has been posted on the diocesan website and will be advertised as the year unfolds.

Click here to read Bishop Peter's full Pastoral Letter for this weekend, read out in churches across the diocese.

Click here to see the Jubilee Year dates.

See a full picture gallery of the Opening Jubilee Mass here.