CITY OF MALOLOS—More than 4 million parishioners and faithfuls under the Malolos Diocese (Roman Catholic church devotees in Bulacan and Valenzuela City) are called to renew and deepen their hope and faith in God amidst the most difficult times as the church joins the world’s opening of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope.
Malolos Bishop Most Rev. Dennis.C. Villarojo, D.D., led on Dec. 29, Sunday the local opening of the World Jubilee Year of Hope themed “Pilgrims of Hope”. which Pope Francis had commenced in the Universal Church on December 24 through the Opening the Jubilee Door in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and will conclude on 6, 2026.
Villarojo presided over the celebration through a so-called Stational Mass. The Mass began at the Barasoain Church at 6:00 a.m. where the introductory rites and the reading of the Bull of Indiction was held. It was then followed by a procession towards the Malolos Cathedral where the Holy Mass was completed.
The celebration was joined by several priests and lay faithful including the monsignori of the Diocese, Papal Awardees, Council of the Laity and various religious congregations.
“Where can we find Jesus, who is our Hope? We can find Him in his Church and in the Holy Sacraments. The true hope is on those who cling to Jesus. He made and fulfilled his promise. It is the reason we are celebrating jubilee this year because of the promise of Jesus of our salvation that he fulfilled. He forgave and redeemed us from our sins,” Villarojo addressed the faithful in his homily.
The Roman Catholic church observes every 25 years a jubilee celebration where it encourages devotees to focus on the strengthening of their devotion, faith, hope and God’s love and mercy to mankind. 2024-2025 is a Jubilee of Hope, according to Fr. Arvin Ray C. Jimenez, Vice Chancellor of the Diocese.
The last ordinary jubilee was the Great Jubilee in 2000. Pope Francis announced The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015-2016.
“The Jubilee is a significant part of the Catholic faith and happens every 25 years. They are a time of conversion and increased emphasis on God’s mercy and forgiveness of sins. This Jubilee of Hope challenges all the faithful to remain steadfast in hope amidst the many challenges and difficulties that we face in life at present, We are invited to put our Hope in the Lord,” Jimenez said.
The word “jubilee” is derived from the Hebrew word jobel, which means “ram’s horn”; since it was precisely that horn which was used as a trumpet, whose sound indicated to everybody the beginning of the jubilee year. The book of Leviticus, in the code of holiness, is the source which tells us of the significance of the jubilee year, a year of liberation “par excellence,” which is at the end of seven weeks of years, the fiftieth year.
Pope Francis commenced the Jubilee Year of Hope in the Universal Church on Dec. 24 by Opening the Jubilee Door in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It will conclude on January 6, 2026 while each Diocese will have a local celebration of the opening of the Jubilee Year, Jimenez also said.
Villarojo also announced the 6 Jubilee Churches in Malolos Diocese where the faithful can visit and hold pilgrimage and receive Plenary Indulgence provided that they will fulfil the requirements which are a confession, Holy Mass and prayers for the intention of the Pope.
These churches are the Malolos Cathedral and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the City of Malolos; Minor Basilica of La Purisima Concepcion in Sta. Maria town; National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao town; National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila; National Shrine and Parish of St. Anne in Hagonoy town and the National Shrine of Nuestra Senora de Salambao in Obando town.
