Year of Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope
A Year of Celebrations
This year is a very special year as we celebrate 150 years since the opening of St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, as well as the Year of the Jubilee when Pope Francis has called us to be Pilgrims of Hope. It is a very special time when we can truly live out the mission of our school as we develop our friendship with Jesus and continue to put our faith into action.
Year of Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope
Pope Francis has decreed that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee, a holy year which happens every 25 years in the Catholic Church.
“For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope.”
Pope Francis
We are joining in the Celebrations during this year of Jubilee
On Friday 24 January, we launched the Year of the Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope. Our wonderful Chaplaincy Team led a beautiful whole school liturgy, including a blessing of our new Jubilee Cross. The Chaplaincy Team and Mini Vinnie’s also introduced plans for our new Jubilee Garden, which we will develop and grow throughout the year. Our children then engaged in a variety of activities and they also enjoyed a delicious cake treat with their class.
Our Key Stage Two pupils have enjoyed learning the Official Hymn for the Year of the Jubilee, with Mrs Maxson from the Diocese of Middlesbrough Schools Singing Programme. The whole school have all enjoyed learning the Mission Together Jubilee Song: Pilgrim Calypso.
Our New Prayer Garden
Our Mini Vinnies have helped our pupils to paint or colour a pebble with the theme of the Year of the Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope, for our new prayer garden. There are some very beautiful creations.
Our Lenten Journey linked to the Year of The Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope
As part of our Lenten Journey, each class created a beautiful prayer chain which includes our Lenten Promises. To demonstrate solidarity and the power of prayer, we then created a whole school prayer chain.
Throughout Lent, each class will pilgrimage to places of worship, including Middlesbrough Cathedral, St. Joseph Catholic Church, and York Minster.
The Jubilee prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen.
