SAN DIEGO — A local pilgrimage led by Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano will inaugurate the Diocese of San Diego’s observance of Jubilee Year 2025.
On Sunday, Dec. 29, pilgrims will gather inside Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Little Italy. (The meeting location was changed from Piazza della Famiglia, which is located west of the church.) At 9:15 a.m., the group will walk in procession to St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown San Diego, where an opening Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m.
Pope Francis officially will commence the holy year, or jubilee, on Dec. 24, when he opens the “holy door” at St. Peter’s Basilica. Dioceses throughout the world, including San Diego, will begin their jubilee observances five days later. The global celebration will conclude on Jan. 6 of 2026.
The theme for the jubilee year will be “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Jubilees are special periods dedicated to repentance and striving for greater holiness. “Ordinary” jubilees, like the upcoming one, are held at regular intervals. There are also “extraordinary” jubilees, so called because they are held outside of the typical 25-year cycle.
St. Joseph Cathedral has been designated as the pilgrimage church for local faithful during the jubilee year. Catholics are encouraged to make a symbolic pilgrimage from Waterfront Park through Beech Street or another appropriate point.
During the year, several Saturday mornings will be available for parishes to organize their own pilgrimages. Pastors may choose to celebrate Mass or hold a holy hour with their parishioners on that day.
A significant grace of the jubilee is the sacrament of reconciliation, of which the faithful are encouraged to avail themselves.
In honor of the jubilee, the Vatican has announced a special plenary indulgence, which provides complete remission of punishment for already forgiven sins. It can be applied to oneself or to a deceased person in Purgatory. More details on the indulgence are available on the Vatican website.
A local diocesan calendar, featuring different jubilee celebrations organized by the various diocesan pastoral offices, will be available in early 2025.
For more information about the opening celebration, contact Alejandra Diaz at adiaz@sdcatholic.org or (858) 490-8306. Learn more about the Jubilee Year at usccb.org/jubilee2025.
