Nearly 200 people attended a prayer service at St. Peter Church in downtown Cleveland before processing to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to open the Jubilee Year of Hope in the Diocese of Cleveland.
The event took place on the feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 29, 2024.
Bishop Edward Malesic presided at the prayer service and Mass. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost and several other priests of the diocese also participated and concelebrated the Mass at the cathedral. Click here to watch an archived video of the liturgy, which was livestreamed.
Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization and head of Parish Life and Special Ministries, read from Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction for the jubilee year, “Spes non confundit” (translation: Hope does not disappoint). The pope proclaimed 2025 as a jubilee year, something that normally takes place every 25 years. The Jubilee Year of Hope will end on Jan. 6, 2026. Bishop Woost spoke about the jubilee year at a recent presentation to the First Friday Forum of Lorain County.
(See photo gallery above.)
The opening prayer service included song, a Gospel reading and a brief homily before those assembled began processing along Superior Avenue to the cathedral, about eight blocks west. Leading the procession were members of the clergy and representatives of the eight parishes and three shrines that Bishop Malesic designated as sacred sites for the jubilee year.
Each representative carried a special cross marking the site as a sacred place for the jubilee. The cross features an emblem with the jubilee logo, four stylized figures representing all of humanity coming from the four corners of the earth. They embrace each other to indicate the solidarity and fraternity that should unite all. The figure at the front is holding a cross as a sign of the faith. There are rough waves under the figures to symbolize that life’s pilgrimage does not always go smoothly in calm waters. The lower part of the cross is an anchor, a symbol of hope. At the bottom of the logo is the motto for the 2025 jubilee year: “Peregrinages in Spem,” which translated from Latin to English means “Pilgrims of Hope.”
When the group arrived at the cathedral, the bishops and others met them on the front steps for a brief prayer before the group entered the cathedral. The 11 crosses were placed around the sanctuary, where they remained during the Mass. Bishop Malesic blessed them and they were taken to each sacred site, where they will remain throughout the year.
The designated sacred sites are: St. Edward Parish, Ashland; Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Cleveland; St. Mary Parish, Chardon; Immaculate Conception Parish, Madison; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Lorain; St. Colette Parish, Brunswick; Queen of Heaven Parish, Uniontown; SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Doylestown; Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Euclid; Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine, Parma Heights and Shrine of St. Ann, Highland Heights.
In his homily at the cathedral, the bishop reflected on the procession, noting it was part of larger procession that we all make together – a journey of faith.
“We are all on the move through this life to eternal life. We go together as a Church, although we must all go together as individuals. We can’t escape this journey,” he said. “We know there is an end point for each of us. We don’t go alone or without assistance. Jesus wants to be a part of this journey through life.”
With the liturgy, the bishop said the Jubilee Year of Hope was opened. He explained the hope being talked about was a hope directed toward God, who fulfills his promise. “Our hope in God is based on the witness of those who saw a dead man being buried – Jesus – alive again three days later. He lives.”
Bishop Malesic said society can be like the day’s Gospel story with us moving along and thinking all is fine. But with God in heaven and us on earth, there is distance between us. “A time always comes when we realize that we need God here with us, not up there, but here. And we open a door to let him enter. Ad the door, Pope Francis reminded us, is Jesus.”
People are searching for God, the bishop said, noting, “We want to return to the source of our being: God.” He said hope in Jesus does not disappoint because along our way through life, we hear the Gospel telling us of God’s love for us. The closer we come to Jesus, we find that these are not mere words. God puts his love into action, first by sending his Son in the flesh to us. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?” the bishop asked. “And ultimate, showing his love for us on the cross … Even in death Jesus would not abandon us. He rose up and came back to us in a glorified body, a body we believe we will have some day.”
As we walk forward in faith together, the bishop prayed that we may sow seeds of hope in our families and our communities. “May we be courageous in living our Catholic faith for our hope in Jesus will not disappoint. And although we seek heaven in our future, let’s not forget about the present. We must be leaven in our world, light in its darkness right now, and we are responsible to bring a bit of heaven to the world in which we live today. Be ambassadors of Jesus in a world that needs him, even if it doesn’t always realize its need. Bring his hope to others,” he added.
Learn more about the Jubilee Year of Hope and the opportunity for plenary indulgences here.