You’re Invited: Opening Mass of the Jubilee Year 2025

When: Sunday, December 29, 2024, at 5:00 PM

Where: Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, Montreal

Be part of this historic moment as Archbishop Christian Lépine celebrates the opening Mass of the Jubilee Year 2025. This special year, proclaimed by Pope Francis, carries the theme: “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Why the Jubilee is Significant

A Jubilee is a sacred time of renewal, deeply rooted in biblical tradition. It is a year of grace, reconciliation, and spiritual growth—a unique invitation to draw closer to God and to one another. Pope Francis describes it as “a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus.”

For our archdiocese, the Jubilee opens the door to new beginnings, inspiring us to build a more united, compassionate, and missionary Church.

A Time of Renewal and Hope

At the heart of the Jubilee is hope. As the Apostle St. Paul reminds us: “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). This holy year invites each of us to renew our faith and embrace God’s mercy in a world longing for peace and healing. This journey will help prepare us to be bearers of hope for our families, communities, and society at large.

The Opening Mass marks the start of a year-long series of celebrations and initiatives in our diocese. From pilgrimages to Acts of Mercy, this Jubilee promises to enrich our spiritual lives and deepen our connection to God’s love.

A Message from Pope Francis

"The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God. May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation. May the witness of believers be for our world a leaven of authentic hope, a harbinger of new heavens and a new earth (cf. 2 Pet 3:13), where men and women will dwell in justice and harmony, in joyful expectation of the fulfilment of the Lord’s promises.

Let us even now be drawn to this hope! Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. May the way we live our lives say to them in so many words: “Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!” (Ps 27:14). May the power of hope fill our days, as we await with confidence the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and glory, now and forever."  —  Pope Francis

For the full message, visit: Apostolic Letter Spes Non Confundit

Join us for this extraordinary celebration as we begin a year of grace, renewal, and profound hope. Let us walk together as Pilgrims of Hope, united as one body in Christ.