On May 9, 2024, the Holy Father officially declared 2025 as a Jubilee Year with the Bull of Indiction, SPES NON CONFUNDIT “Hope does not disappoint,” a familiar phrase taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 5:5. To officially begin the Jubilee Year, the Holy Father then opened the doors of St Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24 and our own Bishop Earl Fernandes joined him by opening the doors of St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Dec. 29. Thousands will make the pilgrimage in Ohio, and millions across the globe to participate in the holy year, where all are called to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” Hope is the topic of this article, and I would like to explore hope through three questions: Why hope, why pilgrimage, and why together?
Why hope?
For nearly 20 years, I have had the privilege of serving some of our most vulnerable neighbors in need across three states. I recall a time when I was asked to teach a class for men recently released from jail and were staying in a homeless shelter until they found employment. This was the first time I truly witnessed the power of hope. The weekly class was called “Owning our Struggles,” and focused on unpacking the anger and emotions that come with failure. Yes, failure is a harsh word and elicited some emotional responses from many on their first night in class. If we are to heal, we must first own the reality that we need healing. We all struggle with something, and these challenges vie to become “lesser gods” in our lives. Lesser gods always disappoint and ultimately strip away our purpose and possibilities. I learned much from these men, as they began to leave their struggles behind in the hands of Christ who alone could offer them mercy and healing. Here I witnessed the power of hope transform lives and futures, as these men journeyed together.
Why pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is more than a journey, it is an intentional journey of faith. Our Jubilee Year is rooted in the phrase “hope does not disappoint” from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. For full context, the preceding verse describes the journey in more detail as one where we should “boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint.” (Rom 5:3-5). For many, the pilgrimage toward hope begins with an understanding that we cannot get there on our own. Our struggles weigh us down, yet we build endurance through the sacraments, and trust in God’s mercy. It is this endurance that reinforces our need for the Holy Spirit as our traveling companion. Our confidence in God’s complete love for us, no matter what, gives us the nudge we need to hope again. For most, the journey to hope may happen in subtle ways. We may not find ourselves facing the violence of poverty or loss of freedom on the journey, like those we serve each day at Catholic Social Services, but our personal journey can be a pilgrimage of faith nonetheless, where we leave behind the heavy baggage of past hurts and disappointments along the way, and begin to hope again.
Why together?
A pilgrimage has two primary goals, to help the pilgrim grow in faith and to unite all the faithful together in common purpose. We live in a time of division, polarization and economic hardship, experienced together as neighbors. In SPES NON CONFUNDIT, we are reminded that “in addition to finding hope in God’s grace, we are also called to discover hope in the signs of the times that the Lord gives us … The signs of the times, which include the yearning of human hearts in need of God’s saving presence, ought to become signs of hope” (SNC 7). As we journey on a pilgrimage of hope in the Jubilee Year, perhaps we could reflect on the reality of division as a sign of the times. A sign that calls us to respond faithfully and to build bridges where hope can be shared. We can choose to journey together with the poor, as neighbors toward a future where things are a little better for everyone, and where we experience the yearning of the heart to hope together as a people on a common pilgrimage.
I pray that the faithful of the Diocese of Columbus, spanning 23 counties across central and southern Ohio, experience hope during the Jubilee Year 2025. At your Catholic Social Services, we are prepared to journey with you, your parish, your school, as neighbors serving neighbors. St. Paul’s words still resonate today, “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has poured out into our heart through the Holy Spirit, that has been given to us” (Rom 5:5). This total gift of self, shared with each of us so that we could share with others, ensures that we never journey alone.
Learn more about getting involved with Catholic Social Services at www.colscss.org
Since 1945, Catholic Social Services (CSS) has been a source of compassion, dignity, and hope for those Christ calls us to serve throughout our community. Serving over 10,000 individuals annually, our mission is supported by dedicated staff and passionate volunteers who help seniors find connection, guide families towards a brighter future, and assist persons with disabilities in finding new freedom. Rooted in the belief that every person reflects the image of God, we journey together as neighbors, empowering individuals to shape their own futures with our unwavering support.