Hope Can Be Shared

Every 25 years, we celebrate the Jubilee Year. This “Jubilee of Hope,” with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope” encourages all of us to fill our lives with the gift of hope—not only for ourselves, but also for everyone who is seeking it.

We, the parishioners of Assumption Parish, visited 7 churches with the sub-theme “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5) last May 24, 2025, with more than 400 participants. We began our pilgrimage with a Mass at our church, presided over by our parish priest, Fr. Marlon Reyes, SSS. Our first destination was St. Jude Thaddeus Parish followed by Sta. Ana Shrine Parish, San Pedro Cathedral, Immaculate Conception Parish (Penaplata, Samal), St. James the Apostle Parish, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, and lastly, in Sto. Rosario Parish where we offered our final prayers of thanksgiving. In every parish we visit, we were assigned to present a catechesis, which included trivia, historical background, and significant facts about the church in our respective buses. Upon arrival at every church, a priest led a Gospel reading and prayer at the holy door, with a cross carried by an altar server. After the prayer, we silently and solemnly entered through the holy door and proceeded to the pews to offer personal prayers and take time for reflection.

Since it was a long journey, I witnessed different people struggling in different ways—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Discomfort, dehydration, heat, and exhaustion were some of the physical challenges we faced. But despite all that, we found strength in our faith and hope in God. In every church we visited, I saw people praying deeply and sincerely. I didn’t know what burdens they were carrying, but I could see hope in their eyes, despite the challenges they encountered.

As I prayed silently in each church, I realized that most of my prayers had already been answered to the point that I couldn’t think of anything else to ask for, except to thank and praise Him endlessly.

In that quiet moment, I suddenly heard a voice saying, “Pray for these people.” So I did. I found myself praying for them asking God to heal those who are hurting, to help them forgive those who have hurt them, and that their silent prayers may be answered. In that moment, I realized that hope can be shared in many simple ways. Praying for others is a powerful source of hope. We can ask God to bring healing, comfort, and peace to those who need it most.

In this generation, we constantly face fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and hopelessness often triggered by social media, headline news, or even our personal relationships. But God does not let these things happen without reason. These challenges are part of His greater plan to help us grow and deepen our faith. Through hope, we find comfort in times of struggle. The gift of hope from God reminds us that we are never alone. Even in the hardest times, God walks with us. He gives us the strength to move forward and the peace we need to rest.

Let us continue to carry hope in our hearts and share it with others through our words, actions, prayers, and kindness. Because when we share hope, we also share God’s love. (Karylle Jave V. Mapula | Assumption Parish Youth Ministry)