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"An important moment for the church to center herself once again on Jesus’ message of joy and hope."
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Jubilee with the Diocese of Austin
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More Information
Más informaciónCelebrate Jubilee with us! See Pilgrimage Dates and other information below.
Jubilee Brochure in English
Jubileo Brochure en Espanol
Visit https://www.austindiocese.org/jubilee-2025 for additional information.
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A Message from
Bishop Joe S. Vasquez
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News
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March 1
Bishop Joe Vásquez opened the Year of Jubilee Dec. 29 at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin. The theme for this year is Pilgrims of Hope, which Bishop Vásquez addressed in his homily.Read More -
December 3
The Jubilee is an important moment for the church to center herself once again on Jesus’ message of joy and hope.Read More
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Pilgrimage Sites
The following parishes and university centers are designated Pilgrimage Sites during the Year of Jubilee beginning Dec. 29, 2024, through January 6, 2026.
- St. Mary Cathedral, Austin
- Holy Cross Parish, Austin
- Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Parish, Austin
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Temple
- Our Lady of Wisdom University Parish @ Texas State University, San Marcos
- Santa Cruz Parish, Buda
- St. Joseph Parish, Bryan
- St. Mary Church of the Assumption Parish, Waco
- St. Mary's Catholic Center @ Texas A&M University, College Station
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Lampasas
- University Catholic Center @ University of Texas, Austin
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What is Jubilee??“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year; the name comes from the instrument used to mark its launch. In this case, the instrument in question is the yobel, the ram's horn, used to proclaim the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This (Jewish) holiday occurs every year, but it takes on special significance when it marks the beginning of a Jubilee year. We can find an early indication of it in the Bible: a Jubilee year was to be marked every 50 years, since this would be an “extra” year, one which would happen every seven weeks of seven years, i.e., every 49 years (cf. Leviticus 25:8-13). Even though it wasn’t easy to organise, it was intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.
Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ mission in this way: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus lives out these words in his daily life, in his encounters with others and in his relationships, all of which bring about liberation and conversion. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee, also known as a “Holy Year,” since it is a time in which God's holiness transforms us. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over time: at first, they were celebrated every 100 years; later, in 1343 Pope Clement VI reduced the gap between Jubilees to every 50 years, and in 1470 Pope Paul II made it every 25 years. There have also been “extraordinary” Holy Years: for example, in 1933 Pope Pius XI chose to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the Redemption, and in 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy as an extraordinary jubilee. The way in which Jubilee Years are marked has also changed through the centuries: originally the Holy Year consisted of a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, later other signs were added, such as the Holy Door. By participating in the Holy Year, one is granted a plenary indulgence.
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¿Qué es el Jubileo?‘Jubileo’ es el nombre de un año particular: parece que deriva del instrumento utilizado para indicar su comienzo; se trata del yobel, el cuerno de carnero, cuyo sonido anuncia el Día de la Expiación (Yom Kippur). Esta fiesta se celebra cada año, pero adquiere un significado particular cuando coincide con el inicio del año jubilar. A este respecto, encontramos una primera idea en la Biblia: debía ser convocado cada 50 años, porque era el año ‘extra’, debía vivirse cada siete semanas de años (cfr. Lv 25,8‑13). Aunque era difícil de realizar, se proponía como la ocasión para restablecer la correcta relación con Dios, con las personas y con la creación, y conllevaba el perdón de las deudas, la restitución de terrenos enajenados y el descanso de la tierra.
Citando al profeta Isaías, el evangelio según san Lucas describe de este mismo modo la misión de Jesús: «El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí; porque él me ha ungido. Me ha enviado a evangelizar a los pobres, a proclamar a los cautivos la libertad, y a los ciegos, la vista; a poner en libertad a los oprimidos, a proclamar el año de gracia del Señor» (Lc 4,18‑19; cfr. Is 61,1‑2). Estas palabras de Jesús se convirtieron también en acciones de liberación y de conversión en sus encuentros y relaciones cotidianos. Bonifacio VIII, en 1300, convocó el primer Jubileo, llamado también “Año Santo”, porque es un tiempo en el que se experimenta que la santidad de Dios nos transforma. Con el tiempo, la frecuencia ha ido cambiando: al principio era cada 100 años; en 1343 se redujo a 50 años por Clemente VI y en 1470 a 25 años por Pablo II. También hay momentos ‘extraordinarios’: por ejemplo, en 1933, Pío XI quiso conmemorar el aniversario de la Redención y en 2015 el Papa Francisco convocó el año de la Misericordia. También ha sido diferente el modo de celebrar este año: en el origen coincidía con la visita a las Basílicas romanas de san Pedro y san Pablo, por tanto, con la peregrinación, posteriormente se añadieron otros signos, como el de la Puerta Santa. Al participar del Año Santo se obtiene la indulgencia plenaria.
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Holy DoorTradition of the"The great tradition of opening the Holy Door will begin when Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on December 24, 2024. Other holy doors will be opened at the Rome basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. For pilgrims who cannot travel to Rome, bishops around the world are expected to designate their cathedrals or a popular Catholic shrine as special places of prayer for Holy Year pilgrims, offering opportunities for reconciliation, indulgences and other events intended to strengthen and revive faith. For pilgrims who cannot travel to Rome, bishops around the world are expected to designate their cathedrals or a popular Catholic shrine as special places of prayer."
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The Jubilee Prayer Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your Son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen -
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Oración del Jubileo
Padre que estás en el cielo, la fe que nos has donado en tu Hijo Jesucristo, nuestro hermano, y la llama de caridad infundida en nuestros corazones por el Espíritu Santo, despierten en nosotros la bienaventurada esperanza en la venida de tu Reino.
Tu gracia nos transforme en dedicados cultivadores de las semillas del Evangelio que fermenten la humanidad y el cosmos, en espera confiada de los cielos nuevos y de la tierra nueva, cuando vencidas las fuerzas del mal, se manifestará para siempre tu gloria.
La gracia del Jubileo reavive en nosotros, Peregrinos de Esperanza, el anhelo de los bienes celestiales y derrame en el mundo entero la alegría y la paz de nuestro Redentor. A ti, Dios bendito eternamente, sea la alabanza y la gloria por los siglos. Amén. -
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