In communion with the universal Church, the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena, Tarboro introduced the celebration of the Jubilee Year on the Sunday Mass of February 9, 2025.
The mass began with our youth presenting the symbols of the Jubilee 2025 logo and cross during the entrance procession. The Jubilee logo serves as a powerful reminder to our community that, no matter the struggles we face in life, Jesus is our steadfast anchor and our unwavering hope. The Jubilee logo shows four stylized figures, representing all of humanity while embracing each other to indicate the solidarity and fraternity which should unite all peoples. In our pilgrimage in life, we face rough waves but the figure of the cross at the front of the four stylized figures invokes us to hold onto the cross.
Our teens also contributed to the liturgy by proclaiming the readings and leading the community in the prayers of the faithful. The central theme of the homily invited us to reflect on our calling as pilgrims of hope. In the Sunday’ gospel, “St. Peter was called by Jesus to become a fisher of men. To not be afraid to catch people and lead them to Christ.” As Jesus followers, we are also called to catch people for Jesus and one way we can do that is by giving hope to many people who are desperately in need of good news. This hope, rooted in our relationship with God, will never disappoint, as St. Paul affirms in Romans 5:11.
Following the Eucharist, the community sang the official Jubilee hymn together, strengthening our sense of unity in this universal celebration.
We are particularly blessed to have a group of 15 youth and young adults that will be attending the Jubilee of Youth in Rome this coming July. As they embark on this spiritual pilgrimage, they will carry with them the prayers and intentions of our entire parish community, offering them as they pass through the holy doors of the papal basilicas in Rome.
In preparation for their pilgrimage, the group has been gathering for monthly catechesis since January 2025, deepening their understanding and commitment to the Catholic faith. They discover the many lives of the saints as they look up to them as models of holiness and hope. Finally, they explore the rich history behind the Jubilee tradition. Our pilgrim group are also very committed and passionate in selling food and religious items to help them raise funds for their Jubilee pilgrimage.
Together, we look forward to embracing this special year of grace, strengthening our bonds of faith, hope, and love, and walking this journey of spiritual renewal with new hearts. In this Jubilee year, the parish also kicked off with some challenges to the community:
A goal of 25 marriages to be celebrated during this year of grace. All marriages celebrated within the year will receive a special papal blessing in the form of papal blessing parchments through the Elemosineria Apostolica. Thanks be to God! Just in matters of about two months, we have already celebrated 8 marriages, and we have 12 already scheduled.
Each month the parish committed to do one act of Mercy throughout the duration of this jubilee year.
The parish is organizing a pilgrimage trip to shrines and religious sites within and outside the diocese.
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