‘In this Jubilee Year may we, as Pilgrims of Hope guided by the Holy Spirit, truly recognize the spark of hope that dwells in the heart of each person we encounter, that desire for and expectation of good things and happiness. May we, Pilgrims of Hope, enkindle and fan into flame that hope with our proclamation in word and deed that Jesus is alive, that he loves us, and is the fulfillment of all our truest desires and dreams!’ – Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, from his Pastoral Letter for the Jubilee Year.
Our special Pilgrimage Mass at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel will be offered
5:30pm Sunday September 28.
This will open the Miramichi Regional Jubilee Mission, “Rejoice in Hope”, which takes place September 29-October 1. Inspired by Spes Non Confundit, the Jubilee Bull of Indiction, Bishop Riesbeck will speak on our need for hope in these times, the relevance of Jesus as the anchor of our hope, and the role of the Holy Spirit as the agent of hope empowering us to mission as apostles of mercy and hope.
- 6:30pm Monday September 29 Why Hope? Jubilee Year Graces. Mass, teaching, Rosary.
- 6:30pm Tuesday September 30 Jesus Christ, the Hope that does not Disappoint. Mass, teaching, Holy Hour with the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- 6:30pm Wednesday October 1 Missionaries of Hope. Mass, teaching, commissioning prayer, and a reception open to all.
- Please note that the Mass on Wednesday, October 1 will also be in commemoration of the October 1825 Miramichi Fire.
Come and be a seeker of hope! See Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC’s video message of invitation here.
We are encouraged to make pilgrimage in this jubilee year of hope. If the Holy Doors in Rome are not a possibility, pilgrimages within the Diocese are available:
- The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John has hosted pilgrimages throughout the year on first Saturdays.
- Cathedral Jubilee Year first Saturdays welcome pilgrims from 10am-1pm, with spiritual exercises, works of mercy, Stations of the Cross, reflections on the Cathedral art, Eucharistic Adoration, and Mass
- The June 7 Pentecost Vigil is designated as a special pilgrimage day for the Miramichi region
- Bus transportation is available, contact our parish office for details.
- December 8 – Diocesan-wide Pilgrimage day in honour of the Immaculate Conception
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine in Howard (Good Shepherd Parish) Annual Shrine Mass July 13, 2025, 3:00 pm
- Saint Francis of Assisi Shrine in Skiff Lake (St. John the Baptist Parish) Annual Shrine Mass August 10, 2025, 11:00 am
- Saint Michael’s Basilica (St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Miramichi) Mass for the Vigil of the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, September 28, 2025, 5:30 pm
- For any questions, contact jubilee@immaculateconception.ca
In addition to making pilgrimages of hope, Jubilee Year indulgences and graces are offered with our corporal and spiritual works of mercy: ‘during the Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind’ (Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year Decree). ‘We should rediscover these corporal works of mercy, to welcome, nourish, and cloth those in need, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. We should rediscover also the spiritual works of mercy, to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead.’
You can look back at signs of hope from 2024 in this publication of Signs of Hope from the Diocese of Saint John in 2024. During the Jubilee Year we want to highlight signs of hope from all corners of the diocese. If you have a story or photo to share, please send it to communications@dioceseofsaintjohn.org to be included in an upcoming issue of our newsletter, Evangelii Gaudium.