Jubilee Year 2025
Spirits are soaring across our Diocese as we celebrate the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year.
The Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica was opened by Pope Francis on 24 December 2024, marking the beginning of the Jubilee Year.
The occasion marks a time of grace, mercy and conversion, involving prayer, pilgrimage, and sacramental repentance.
As a Diocese, we officially launched the Jubilee Year on Sunday 2 March with more than 1,000 people joining us for a Pilgrimage, Mass and Festival of Hope.
Everyone is encouraged to get involved as we celebrate Pope Francis’ theme – Pilgrims of Hope.
There are a several things happening throughout the year, you can find all the details below.
To learn more about the Jubilee Year, click here.
What's on in our Diocese?
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Sites of Pilgrimage
Our Jubilee Year is now well underway. It started with an incredible Pilgrimage of Hope from Nobby’s Beach to Sacred Heart Cathedral where we celebrated Mass before enjoying a fun festival full of family activities.
Now, we invite you to journey beyond and go on our Pilgrimage through our Diocese! Our eight sites are open and ready for you. Please visit these Churches during the times listed below.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newcastle West
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- Tuesday 8:15 AM: Mass
- Wednesday 8:15 AM: Mass
- Thursday 8:15 AM- Vesper- 1st Thursday of each month 5.00pm. 3 April, 1 May, 5 June, 3 July, 7 August, 4 September, 2 October, 6 November
- Friday 11:00 AM: Reconciliation 12:05 PM: Mass
- Saturday 9:15 AM: Mass (followed by Novena) 5:30 PM: Mass
- Sunday 9:30 AM: Mass 11:30 AM: Polish Mass 5:00 PM: Mass
- Monday 8:15 AM: Mass
St Mary Star of the Sea, Newcastle
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- Sunday 7.30AM: Mass
- During May- 11am- Noon- Marian Prayer and Reflect
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St John the Baptist Shrine, Maitland
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- Wednesday’s 2nd and 4th of the month – 9.00AM- 4.00PM
St Joseph’s, East Maitland
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- Tuesday 9.30AM- 10.30AM Private Adoration Mass open from 5:00PM- 7.00PM
- Wednesday 7:00 AM: Mass
- Thursday 6.30AM Rosary 7:00 AM: Mass 9.30am – 10.30am Private Adoration
- Friday 6.30AM Rosary 7:00 AM – 9.00AM Mass and Private Adoration
- 1st Friday of the Month: 24 hour Private Adoration
- Saturday 8:00 AM: Mass (includes Reconciliation)
- Saturday 5:00 PM: Mass
- 2nd Saturday’s: 8.00AM Mass followed by Marian Holy Hour, Benediction & Reconciliation – 12th April, 10 May, 14th June, 12th July, 9th August, 13th September, 11th October, 8th November, 13th December
- Sunday 8.30AM & 6.00PM
- Monday 9.30AM- 10.30AM Private Adoration
St Joseph’s, Murrurundi
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- Saturday 5:00 PM: Mass
- To visit outside Mass times, contact these parishioners who all live in the same street as the church. (It helps you and them to ring ahead.):
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- Gerard or Lindy Howard 0409 400 824
- Karen Kimpton 0432 277 591
- Gemma Metzker 0414 461 165
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Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Peace, Scone
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- The Church is open every day sunrise to sunset when Father Graham is onsite.
- Tuesday 9:00 AM: Mass
- Wednesday 10:00 AM (Rosary at 9:45 am)
- Friday 9:15 AM: Mass during School Term OR 9:00 AM School Holidays.
- Saturday 9:00 AM: Mass. Reconciliations 9:30AM to 10:15 AM
- Sunday 9:00 AM: Mass
- Sunday 4:00 PM: Exposition, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Reconciliations 4:00PM to 4:45PM during Exposition
- Sunday 5:00 PM: Mass
Saints Patrick & Brigid, Cooranbong
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- Saturday 5:00 PM: Mass (2nd, 4th, and 5th Sunday of the month)
Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Taree
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- Tuesday 4.30pm: Reconciliation 5.30pm: Mass
- Wednesday 9.30am: Mass (2nd ,3rd,4th Wednesday of the month)
- Friday 9.00am: Adoration 9.30am: Mass
- Saturday 5.30pm: Mass
- Sunday 9.30am: Mass
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Pilgrimage to Greece, Turkey and Italy
We’re so excited to have a group of people embark on a 18-day pilgrimage tracing the footsteps of St. Paul and other revered saints, visiting pivotal biblical sites across Greece, Turkey, and Italy. From the ancient wonders of Athens and Corinth to the spiritual heights of Meteora and the holy grounds of Ephesus, each location offers a unique opportunity for deep spiritual reflection and connection to our rich Christian story. The pilgrimage culminates in Rome during the Jubilee Year, where pilgrims will experience the grace and blessings of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, uniting in faith and community. This pilgrimage promises to be a deeply enriching experience, fostering a renewed sense of faith and spiritual growth.
Date: Thursday 25 September – Sunday 12 October.
Applications closed but for more information contact [email protected]
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Jubilee Art Exhibition
On Saturday 31 May over 60 people gathered in the Toohey Room to view the artwork created for our Jubilee Art Exhibition. It was evident in the creations that the artists had reflected deeply on the theme ‘Hope does not disappoint’.
In his Jubilee Year letter to us Pope Francis begins by quoting Saint Paul saying “Spes non confundit” – “Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom5:5). This letter encourages us to be “tangible signs of hope” for others, especially those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.
The artists reflected on the theme using colours, shapes, lines and symbols and transformed the words to provide a deeper meaning and provoke the thoughts and feelings of the audience.
The overall winners of the exhibition were Gwen Competente, Paige Jones and Michelle Lawson.
You can learn more and take a look at submissions, by clicking here.
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Diocesan Launch of the Jubilee Year
Hope, faith, and a whole lot of fun filled the air in Newcastle on Sunday 2 March as more than 1,000 people gathered to launch the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year.
It started with a Pilgrimage of Hope from Nobbys Beach to Sacred Heart Cathedral, where Bishop Michael Kennedy and people from across the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle walked in unison, celebrating everything they receive from God and offer the world.
After the pilgrimage, the Cathedral was overflowing for an inspiring and reflective Mass before everyone enjoyed a festival of family activities, free food, and connection.
Read more about it here.
At this event, people also picked up a Pilgrim’s Passport to visit our sites of pilgrimage. To learn more about the Passport and how to obtain a Jubilee Indulgence, click here.
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Blessed Carlo Acutis Exhibition
At the start of March, the Diocese hosted an exhibition about Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young Italian boy who will be canonised a Saint during the Jubilee Year after living a life incredibly close to Jesus.
After his canonisation, he will be known as Patron Saint of the Internet because of his unique approach to spirituality in the digital age. His canonisation has been postponed due to Pope Francis’ death, a new date has not been set yet.
Carlo’s ability to blend his deep faith with a passion for technology was remarkable. He created a website to document Eucharistic miracles and share his beliefs with the world. He was a devout Catholic and is credited as having a hand in two healing miracles after his death — the requisite number for all Catholic saints.
