Celebrating Family Life During the Holy Year of Jubilee

Celebrating Family Life During the Holy Year of Jubilee

The upcoming Jubilee Year 2025, themed Pilgrims of Hope, offers families a unique opportunity to celebrate, reflect, and rekindle their faith and connections. This special year, proclaimed by Pope Francis, invites all to rediscover God’s grace and love through community and family life.

The Holy Year will begin on December 29, 2024, with the opening of the Jubilee Door at the Cathedral, coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Family. This symbolic start emphasises the centrality of families in the Church’s mission and celebrates their role as the foundation of society. “This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together to experience God’s grace and take it back home,” said Tricia Syms, Episcopal Delegate for the Family Life Commission on Trinity TV’s series on the Jubilee Year.

Families are invited to join pilgrimages, participate in communal prayers, and reflect on their baptismal vows. These activities are designed to foster healing, forgiveness, and unity. “We want to revitalise, revisit our baptismal vows,” Syms added. She highlighted that these vows remind us of our roles as priests, prophets, and kings in our relationships, urging us to live out our faith through connection and service to one another.

Month of Families: July 2025

July 2025 is dedicated to celebrating family life, with activities planned to strengthen bonds and inspire hope. A major highlight will be the Family Fun Day, offering a day of joy, fellowship, and shared memories. “It’s not just about fun; it’s about building a collective community, a church community, and then extending that to the wider community,” shared Darendra Boodram of the Family Life Commission.

The Role of Schools and the Church

Schools will also play a significant role in spreading the message of hope and healing to families. Sister Patrice Ford OP who teaches at Holy Name Convent, Port Of Spain, noted that students often bring the wounds of their family life to school, and this Jubilee Year is an opportunity to address those challenges. “Our families are in need of hope, and through the Family Life Commission and school activities, children can bring hope back to their homes,” she said.

The Church aims to extend its mission beyond regular attendees by reaching out to all families in the community. This initiative will include family life units visiting homes and encouraging participation in Jubilee activities.

Baptism: A Call to Renewal

A key focus of the Jubilee Year is on baptism and its significance in family life. Baptismal vows call for building relationships through love, forgiveness, and acts of service. Families are

encouraged to place a Family Jubilee Prayer Door on their homes as a daily reminder of their faith journey. “Every day, as you enter and exit your home, you’ll make this prayer,” Syms explained. This simple yet profound ritual underscores the theme of being pilgrims of hope in everyday life.

Pilgrimage and Reconciliation

The Jubilee will feature sacred pilgrimage sites across Trinidad and Tobago, where families can seek grace and renewal. With Pilgrim Passports in hand, families can visit these sites, participate in confessions, and pray for the pope’s intentions. “It’s about journeying together and providing a space for healing,” Syms remarked, drawing parallels to the Holy Family’s own pilgrimages.

A Hopeful Vision for the Future

As the Jubilee approaches, hopes are high for its impact on families and society. Sister Patrice expressed her wish for families to experience healing and reconciliation. “Families being reconciled, mothers and fathers loving each other, children learning to love—this is my hope for family life during the Jubilee,” she said.

Boodram added that the Jubilee is a chance to re-centre family life around shared time and faith. “Build your lives around family time—prayer, conversations, and simple joys like a hike together,” he urged.

Ultimately, the Holy Year of Jubilee invites all families to step into God’s grace, rediscover their faith, and rekindle the bonds that unite them. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Family life is a series of pilgrimages, big and small.” Let this Jubilee Year be a journey of hope and renewal for families everywhere.