We look back with  gratitude on our 2025 Jubilee Year, a sacred season of renewal, forgiveness, and hope. Jubilees are more than a liturgical calendar milestone, they are invitations to pause, reflect, and reorient our lives toward God. In the Catholic tradition, they are steeped in ritual and symbolism: pilgrimages, the opening of the Holy Door by the Pope, reconciliation, communal prayer, and worship, all designed to open hearts, foster spiritual growth, and invite transformation. 

The Jubilee has deep roots in Scripture. In Leviticus 25:10, it is described as a time of pardon and renewal. In Jewish tradition, the Jubilee Year, or Yovel, happens every 50 years, bringing joy, freedom, and restoration, as debts are forgiven, enslaved people are freed, and land is returned, announced by the sound of a ram’s horn.  This ancient practice points to God’s boundless mercy and the hope that He offers anew to each generation. 

The 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope was inaugurated by Pope Francis on 24 December 2024 at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome and concluded on 6 January 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany, with Pope Leo XIV celebrating Holy Mass and closing the Holy Door. In a moving celebration of Holy Mass and the ceremonial closing of the Holy Door, Pope Leo reminded the faithful that while liturgical doors may close, the door of God’s mercy is never shut off from us. In his homily, he called us to remember God’s unfailing welcome and to embrace forgiveness and hope in every moment of our lives. He called on the Church to honour the humble rather than the prestigious, to safeguard what is “small, vulnerable, and fragile” – spaces where God’s presence is most clearly felt and where true Christian life takes root. 

For the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, the Jubilee Year was a journey of faith and renewal. Answering Pope Francis’ call to be Pilgrims of Hope, our community walked together in prayer, pilgrimage, and shared reflection, experiencing a year defined by acts of faith, a clear sense of purpose, and the bright, sustaining light of hope. 

A Celebration to Start the Year

Our Jubilee Year began in celebration on Sunday 2 March, with a Diocesan launch that welcomed over 1,000 people from across the Diocese. The Pilgrimage of Hope, led by Bishop Michael Kennedy, carried the faithful from the windswept sands of Nobbys Beach to the doors of Sacred Heart Cathedral, a journey marked by gratitude for God’s blessings and a shared commitment to service. 

Inside the Cathedral, hearts were lifted during a prayerful and inspiring Mass. Outside, the celebration continued with family activities, shared meals, and joyful connection. The day was a living expression of hope, faith, and the generous spirit of our community. 

 “The Cathedral was packed during Mass. When I walked in at the start and just saw how full it was and heard everyone singing that amazing hymn, it was a great example of people being together with God, with spirits soaring,” said Bishop Michael.

Excitement for the Blessed Carlo Acutis Exhibition

In March 2025, excitement arrived with the international Eucharistic Miracles of the World Exhibition organised by Bishop Michael as part of the Jubilee Year celebrations. This significant event invited people of all ages to encounter the remarkable story of Blessed Carlo Acutis. 

Carlo was a teenager who lived a very ordinary 21st-century life – attending school, playing football, travelling, and enjoying video games. Yet alongside this everyday experience, he lived an extraordinary life of faith. With a passion for computer programming and research, Carlo used his talents to create a website documenting all Church-approved Eucharistic miracles from the past 2,000 years. 

Canonised in 2025 and now recognised as the Patron Saint of the Internet, Carlo Acutis continues to inspire both young people and adults to discover how faith can be lived authentically and joyfully in the modern world. 

Walking Together in Faith

Throughout the year, the Diocese journeyed together in faith and hope, walking a path of renewal and encounter. Building on the momentum of the Pilgrim’s Walk at the Jubilee Launch in March, The Way of the Cross: A Pilgrimage of Hope invited participants to walk side by side with fellow pilgrims, sharing their stories, reflecting on Pope Francis’ words of hope, and discovering deeper encounters with Jesus along the way. 

Beyond the Pilgrimage of Hope, Catholics were invited to explore a spiritual journey across the Diocese’s eight local pilgrimage sites. At each stop, pilgrims were greeted with warmth and care: Mass, prayer, and opportunities for confession provided moments of spiritual renewal, while hospitality and fellowship nurtured a sense of community. Pilgrim Passports offered a tangible way to mark each stage of the journey, creating lasting memories of both faith and friendship. 

“This was a time of deep spiritual renewal and joyful connection,” said James Camden Director of Mission and Evangelisation.

In mid-May, the Diocese’s Mission and Evangelisation team organised a special three-day pilgrimage, a journey that deepened faith, strengthened community, and celebrated the unity of the Diocese. Later, in August, the aMeN caMiNo Experience guided pilgrims through bushland, along beaches, and across local landscapes, offering a unique opportunity to connect more deeply with God, with one another, and with the sacredness of creation.

In September and October, pilgrims embarked on a profound international journey, walking alongside Bishop Michael as they traced the footsteps of St Paul. From Greece to Turkey, they retraced his path, reflecting on his mission, renewing their baptismal vows, and praying in places steeped in sacred history. Moments of awe awaited at the Cave of Revelation in Patmos and the House of Mary in Ephesus, where standing in these hallowed spaces offered a powerful encounter with Scripture, the early Church, and the enduring message of the Gospel. 

Art Moves Us 

Art has a unique power to open hearts and invite encounters with God in ways words alone cannot. During the Jubilee Year, Catholics were invited to reflect on the vital role of creativity in expressing faith, hope, and the deeper stirrings of the human spirit. 

The 2025 Jubilee Art Exhibition brought this vision to life under the theme “Hope does not disappoint,” inspired by Pope Francis’ words in his Jubilee letter. Sixty works by adult artists and primary and secondary students filled the exhibition, each piece a vivid testament to imagination, colour, and faith. 

Walking through the exhibition, visitors encountered hope expressed in countless forms – through brushstrokes, sketches, and bold bursts of colour. Each artwork told its own story, revealing how creativity can reach the heart, touch the soul, and inspire a deeper sense of God’s presence. The exhibition was not only a celebration of artistic talent but also a living reflection of the Jubilee itself: a time to see hope, mercy, and faith made visible. 

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) Assembly

In late September and early October, the Diocese hosted nearly 300 delegates for the NATSICC Assembly. The gathering included prayer, cultural exchange, and learning. Highlights included student performances, On Country experiences, and an inspiring keynote by journalist Stan Grant.  

Fr Darryl Mackie reflected on the assembly as a powerful opportunity to honour Aboriginal spirituality within the life of the Church. 

“I think we have been trying to explore things a bit more over the last few days about Aboriginal spirituality and my understanding is that it just co exists so well with our Christian spirituality,” said Fr Darryl.

Commissioned in Hope. Celebrating the Jubilee Year 

On 23 November, the Diocese gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral for the Commissioned in Hope Mass, one of the final celebrations of the Jubilee Year.  

Bishop Michael led the Mass, giving thanks for the year’s blessings and commissioning 95 young pilgrims preparing for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne.  

Pilgrims presented their Pilgrim Passports to receive a special Jubilee memento, marking their journey of faith. 

Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF)

What an incredible experience our 95 young pilgrims had in Melbourne at the 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF). Over three days, they immersed themselves in a vibrant and transformative program, filled with daily Mass, prayer, workshops, keynote sessions, live concerts, justice activities, and an interactive expo. As one of the largest delegations at the festival, our young people journeyed alongside Bishop Michael Kennedy, sharing in prayer, reflection, and celebration, and forming bonds that will last long beyond the festival.

“ACYF gave our young people space to explore their faith and grow spiritually, so they could discover who they are and who God is calling them to become. They returned from inspired to lead, serve, and share their faith with joy,” said James Camden, Director of Mission and Evangelisation.

Pilgrimage of the Migrant Jubilee Cross

To conclude the Jubilee Year, the Diocese welcomed the Migrant Jubilee Cross in mid-December. Crafted from old church pews and gifted by Quirindi parishioner John Kerklaan, the Cross carries relics of the Holy Family from the Vatican. 

As it journeyed through the Diocese, the Cross became a symbol of welcome and belonging and acts as a reminder that the Church is a safe harbour for the displaced and vulnerable. 

Representatives from twelve different migrant communities gathered with Bishop Michael to pray, share stories, and reflect on faith and hope. The Cross concluded its journey at the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Adamstown, continuing on to the Syro-Malabar and Vietnamese communities. 

As we close this Jubilee Year, we carry forward the hope, faith, and unity experienced throughout 2025. The pilgrimages, celebrations, creativity, and shared encounters with one another have shown that hope is not just a feeling, it is a way of living.  

May the friendships, inspiration, and lessons of this Jubilee continue to guide and strengthen us as we walk together as pilgrims of hope.