By Fr. David Tumback, Chair, Diocesan Jubilee 2025 Committee
The Jubilee Year of 2025 has now reached the halfway point and during this time, untold numbers of Christians have been spiritually strengthened and energized. In announcing the Jubilee Year, the late Pope Francis called on the faithful to be “Pilgrims of Hope” as we journey to the Father’s House. The Jubilee Year of 2025 will also serve as a preparation for the Jubilee Year 2033 in which we will celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bishop Mark Hagemoen recently reflected on this Jubilee 2025 journey:
“This Jubilee year has already been the occasion of the great surprising grace and blessing of the Holy Spirit. The sudden death on Easter Monday of Pope Francis – who proclaimed this Jubilee year of Hope by immersing us in God’s mercy – has led to the election of Pope Leo XIV. Our new Holy Father has emphasized where God’s hope directs us: bringing peace to our world; honouring human dignity and care of the poor and marginalized; care for our common home – creation; responding to the call to be missionary disciples. This Jubilee Year continues to bless and surprise as we commit to this journey as “Pilgrims of Hope.” This journey has only just begun and continues”
Pope Francis invited the faithful, as Pilgrims of Hope, to make pilgrimages to Rome and other identified sacred places and identified pilgrimage sites. Doing so opens the faithful to the opportunity of receiving the Jubilee Indulgence.
When the first Jubilee was proclaimed, the faithful could receive an indulgence by making pilgrimages to the tombs of Saint Peter and St. Paul. Today, we are offered the same opportunity to receive the indulgence.
While many will not have the opportunity or means to make a pilgrimage to Rome, the faithful are afforded many opportunities in which they can enter into the spirit of the Jubilee Year as well as receive an indulgence.
Recently, young people from the diocese of Saskatoon engaged in a pilgrimage to Rome and opened themselves to the Holy Spirit through prayer, devotions and fellowship.
Pilgrim Stephanie Toma stated:
“This wasn’t just a physical journey, it was a spiritual awakening. Laying everything at the feet of Jesus and allowing Him to guide me, rather than trying to control or predict the outcome, changed me deeply. I learned what it means to truly trust, to let go, and to be still in the presence of something greater than myself.
“One of the most profound moments was seeing Pope Leo in person and being able to attend Mass near the tomb of Pope Francis. These were more than just historic or symbolic events, they were sacred encounters that stirred something within me.
“My eyes were opened, not just to the beauty of the Church, but to the ways Jesus continues to move in our lives today, quietly, mysteriously, and always with love.”
Diocesan seminarian Huy Le shared his experience.:
“A moment of grace came when I found myself standing in St. Peter’s Square, surrounded by thousands of fellow Catholics. It was overwhelming in the best way. I was struck by the sheer magnitude of our universal Church—a family so much bigger than I had ever imagined. As I stood there, I felt humbled and yet so loved, like a son embraced by a Mother who holds the whole world in her arms. This moment stirred something deep within me, further inflaming my desire to serve and love the Church and her people as a priest, God willing. This pilgrimage to Italy has left a mark on my soul. It gave me a glimpse of the Church’s vastness and a renewed sense of hope and purpose. I return home with my heart full and my resolve strengthened to continue discerning the call to the priesthood, eager to serve with all the love and humility I can offer.”
What is an Indulgence?
In the teaching of the Catholic Church, an indulgence is “a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for (forgiven) sins.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes an indulgence as “…a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions…” (CCC #1471)
Indulgences can be partial (remitting some of the temporal punishment due to sin) or plenary (which remits all punishment).
How Do We Receive an Indulgence?
Pope Francis instructed that an indulgence is granted during the Jubilee Year for any one of the following works, provided that all conditions for an indulgence are met:
- Make a pilgrimage to Rome.
- Visit your local Cathedral or other local church or shrine selected by the bishop. In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, the following churches and pilgrimage sites have been identified by Bishop Hagemoen as pilgrimage locations to obtain an indulgence:
- The Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123, Nelson Road, Saskatoon, 306-659-5800
- St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral, 720 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon, 306-652-0033
- St. Peter’s Abbey, Muenster, Contact the Benedictine Abbey at: guestmaster@stpeters.sk.ca or 306-682-1775
- Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows and Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Blumenfeld, SK – annual pilgrimage June 8, 2025 (INFO). The pilgrimage site at Blumenfeld is also open to visitors from 2 pm to 4 pm every Sunday from July 6 to Sept. 1.
Our Lady of Sorrows Grotto at the Blumenfeld pilgrimage site.
- St. Anthony Church, Grosswerder, SK – annual pilgrimage June 13, 2025 (Info)
St. Anthony Church, Grosswerder, SK.
- Holy Rosary Shrine and Church, near Reward, SK – annual pilgrimage July 13, 2025 (INFO). Mass will also be celebrated at the Reward pilgrimage site at 7:30 p.m. every second Saturday: June 7, June 21, July 5, July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 16, Aug. 30, and Sept. 13.
Holy Rosary Church and Shrine, Reward, SK.
- Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, near Carmel, SK – annual pilgrimage July 20, 2025 (INFO)
Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, at the Carmel pilgrimage site.
- Millennium Pro-Life Cross , north of Aberdeen – annual pilgrimage at 3 pm Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 (INFO)
The Pro-Life Millennium Cross stands high on a hill north of Aberdeen on Highway 41.
- Performing works of mercy such as visiting prisoners, spending time with the lonely and elderly, assisting the sick and helping those in need.
- Acts of penance, such as fasting one day a week from social media and television, volunteering for the less fortunate and those agencies defending life, donating money to the poor, fasting from food, supporting religious and social works, to name just a few.
What are the Conditions for Receiving an Indulgence?
To receive the plenary indulgence the following conditions must be met, as instructed by Pope Francis:
- Detachment from all mortal and venial sin.
- Avail oneself to sacramental Confession, reception of Holy Communion, and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father. These three conditions can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the works (or visiting the sacred site) to gain the indulgence, but it is most appropriate that Holy Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work (or visit) is completed.
- A single sacramental Confession is sufficient for several plenary indulgences, but the faithful are encouraged to frequent confession so that it might foster a deeper conversion, transformation, and purity of heart. For each plenary indulgence that is sought, however, a separate reception of Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father are required. (The prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father is left up to the choice of the individual, although the suggestion is an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary.”)
Conclusion
As the Jubilee Year continues, and as more activities are planned, the faithful are encouraged to embrace the spirit of “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Recognizing the vast opportunities for spiritual renewal and growth, all of the baptized are called to find their own way as an individual, family or parish group to celebrate this great Jubilee Year and the hope that flows from God’s generosity.
For more information and updates, please continue to visit the diocesan website. You will find information about the Jubilee Year at: rcdos.ca/jubilee-2025 and details about pilgrimages in the diocese of Saskatoon, and also about nearby pilgrimages to identified sacred sites in neighbour dioceses and eparchy at: rcdos.ca/pilgrimages-2025.
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