On 24th December 2024, to officially launch the Jubilee year, which only occurs every 25 years, Pope Francis opened the usually bricked up Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica- ‘Porta Sancta’ in the Vatican, and was the first ‘pilgrim of hope’ to pass through the door. Pope Francis tells us that ‘hope does not disappoint’ and asks us all to be signs of hope for others by caring for our common home and by supporting our brothers and sisters who are experiencing war, hunger or poverty.
The theme of our new year whole school staff-led Mass (Jan 25) was hope, and all the readings, prayers and hymns were specially selected to help us focus on how we can be pilgrims of hope this year. The official launch of the Jubilee Year for children took place on 24th January and this began our year of striving to share Jesus’ mission to spread peace, love and hope as a St Mary’s family through our words and actions.
Our Launch day poster
We have created our own Holy Doors which go into our special sacred space for school gatherings- our school hall. As we leave our hall, we go forth and spread love, peace and joy to all those we meet- as St Mary’s Pilgrims of Hope.
Click on the video to find out about the Jubilee Year 2025