Faithful look forward to what the Jubilee Year brings

Story by Lara Pickford-Gordon

Photos by Gerard-Paul Wanliss

“There’s so much joy and excitement to see what the Year holds and what God has in store for us.” This was the view of Samantha Lessey of the Coryal parish. She was one of the many people in attendance at the Holy Mass to celebrate the opening of the Jubilee Door at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain on Sunday, December 29.

The Archbishop’s homily resonated with Lessey and other members of the congregation. “As the Archbishop said this morning ‘wet meh down’. I sat this morning and taking in his words, [it] just reminded me that God has so much in store for us, and I really can’t wait to see what God has in store for me in this Jubilee Year, and I am just excited to live in His grace and presence and hope for a beautiful 2025,” Lessey said.

Clifford Mike from the Carapichaima parish stated, “Listening to the Archbishop here, I truly feel I can now go out there, starting with my family to talk about hope, to talk about forgiveness, to talk about all of these things we need to be cognisant of in this Jubilee Year.”

Carolyn Gooding, also from Carapichaima, expressed excitement to experience the Jubilee Year. “The keywords of forgiveness and hope in this year of Jubilee, it really means a lot to me, and I look forward to, like Clifford, bringing it to my family and to our parish. We are at a time in our parish where forgiveness and healing is really needed and I look forward to all that this Jubilee Year will bring for us as a parish and our community.”

Seminarian Jameke Brown saw the opportunities if people are willing to try. “It is a great opportunity for God’s mercy. I think we often take God’s mercy for granted. The situations we find ourselves in, we often think it is too much for God to forgive but I think this Jubilee Year is a wonderful opportunity, for us to come back home to the mercy, love, and grace of God.”

Papal Bull

The Mass was one part of the day’s event. While the congregation attending may have thought there would be an opening of the Cathedral doors as the Pope opened the doors at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Christmas Eve, a different ritual was prescribed for cathedrals and co-cathedrals.

According to the Papal Bull Jubilee Spes non confundit, Pope Francis decreed, “on December 29, in every cathedral and co-cathedral, diocesan bishops are to celebrate the Holy Mass as the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year, using the ritual indications that will be provided for that occasion.”

Prior to the Mass, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Santiago de Wit Guzmán, clergy, altar servers, and members of the Archdiocesan Jubilee Committee processed from Tamarind Square, Independence Square South, to the Cathedral.

According to the Papal Bull, “A pilgrimage that sets out from a church chosen for the collectio and then proceeds to the cathedral can serve to symbolise the journey of hope that, illumined by the word of God, unites all the faithful.” Committee members were at the front of the procession carrying a decorated wooden cross. It was erected at the entrance of the Jubilee Door. John-Michael Mader, of the St Dominic’s Morvant parish, recited an uplifting Spoken Word, ‘Hope’ (See page 11).

Fanfare sounded by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Band marked the transition to the introductory rites. Archbishop Gordon offered invocations and the congregation’s response was, “Blessed be the Lord our hope.”

Archbishop Gordon prayed, “In fellowship with the universal Church as we celebrate the love of the Father that revealed itself in the flesh of the Word made man, and in the sign of the cross, anchor of salvation, we solemnly open the Jubilee Year in the Church in Trinidad and Tobago.” The congregation applauded.

Deacon Roland Joseph proclaimed the Gospel from Luke 1:36-38 and extracts from the Papal Bull were read. Prayers continued with Archbishop Gordon saying that all were standing on the threshold of grace and renewal and a symbol of the journey into the heart of God’s mercy. “Hope does not disappoint; nothing can separate us from the love of Lord.”

The cross was venerated, then the procession entered the church for the celebration of the Mass.

The Holy Year will conclude Sunday, December 28, 2025.