On 24 December 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica to inaugurate the Jubilee Year of Hope – a special time of grace for prayer, conversion, repentance, and pilgrimage, with a specific focus on Christian Hope.
Last Friday 26 September, we had 68 people from our parish, and 3 guests, Fr Gersio, Fr Peter Minh, Fr Nicolas Ho, who attended Pilgrim Day. We visited the two churches that have been chosen by the Archdiocese of Melbourne as Pilgrim Places, St Mary Magdalen’s Trentham & St Mary Star of the Sea’s West Melbourne (St Mary Star of the Sea is Archdiocese Shrine of the Holy Family).
We celebrated Mass at St Mary Magdalen Church. In his homily Fr Anthony Quang briefly explained that the Jubilee Year celebration has its origins in the Jewish religious tradition. Pope Boniface VIII established the Holy Year in 1300 as a centenary observance. Later on the Church reduced the interval to 50 years, and then further reduced it to 25 years.
Fr Anthony Quang said that the theme Pilgrims of Hope emphasises the journey of faith, especially the hope found in Christ. As pilgrims, we are called to embark on a spiritual journey, seeking renewal and deeper communion with God. The Jubilee Year especially invites us to live out our faith with joy and to inspire others through acts of love and mercy.
After Mass we had lunch at Lake Daylesford and it was great to see our parishioners mingling with each other. A parish picnic lunch is not merely about sharing great food and having fun; but it is about creating deeper connections and building stronger bonds.
On the way home we visited St Mary of the Star of the Sea Church. Fr Cassius conducted a short reflection session. The reflection at the end of the day helped us to draw meaning from our experiences, make space for whatever the new day will bring and especially, prepare for the new day, a day of Hope.
It was a day of prayer and coming together, and more importantly to inspire hope. As in the eyes of Pope Francis, “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring”.
May the Jubilee be an opportunity for all of us, as Christian, to be renewed in hope.
Hung Xuan Chau,
Parishioner [St Joseph’s]
