Archbishop Valles Announces Jubilee Year Celebrations and Mass Timing

During the December presbyterium meeting, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles explained the significance of the upcoming Jubilee Year, a special period in the Church’s calendar that is celebrated every 25 years. Known as the “Holy Year,” this is also referred to as an Ordinary Jubilee Year. The last Ordinary Jubilee took place in 2000. Archbishop Valles highlighted that any Jubilee held between the Ordinary Jubilees is known as an Extraordinary Jubilee Year, such as the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis in 2015-2016.

The Archbishop went on to quote Pope Francis from his Bull of Indiction, Spes non confundit (“Hope does not disappoint”), particularly emphasizing paragraph 6. In it, the Pope decrees the opening of the Holy Doors at key basilicas in Rome to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee Year. The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica opened December 24, 2024 and on today, December 29, 2024, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome. Following this, on January 1, 2025, the Holy Door at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major will open, and on January 5, 2025, the Holy Door at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the walls will be opened.

Pope Francis also decreed that on December 29, 2024, every cathedral and co-cathedral worldwide will celebrate a Mass with the local bishop to mark the opening of the Jubilee Year. This marks a significant moment for the Church, as diocesan communities worldwide come together to celebrate the occasion.

As the Church prepares for this momentous event, Archbishop Valles encourages the faithful to join in prayer and celebration, marking the beginning of a new and hopeful chapter in the Church’s life with the Jubilee Year of Hope. (Sem. Aljon Mayol)