Jubilee 2025

Every 25 years, the Catholic Church has a Jubilee, a special year of grace when the Catholic Church offers the faithful the chance to receive the plenary indulgence, meaning the forgiveness of sins for themselves or deceased relatives.

One of the most exciting and famous parts of the Jubilee is the opening of the Holy Door. The first record of this event at St. Peter’s Basilica dates back to 1500 with Pope Alexander VI. The opening of the Holy Door represents the journey from sin to grace for every Christian and marks the start of the Jubilee. The four main Holy Doors are located at the major basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major. St. Peter’s Basilica is the first to open, with the other doors opened in the days that follow.

Jubilee 2025 in Boston

Archbishop Richard Henning officially opened the Jubilee Year in Boston on December 29, 2024 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. No holy doors will be opened other than the ones in Rome. However, our Archbishop has designated the following locations as pilgrimage sites throughout the Archdiocese of Boston:

• Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston

• Most Holy Redeemer – Boston

• St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine – Boston

• St. Paul Parish – Hingham

• St. Patrick Parish – Brockton

• Holy Rosary Shrine – Lawrence

• St. Joseph the Worker Shrine – Lowell

• Divine Mercy Shrine – Salem

• Blessed Andrew Phu Yen – Medford

• Missionary Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima – Holliston

• Immaculate Conception Parish – Marlborough

Why make a pilgrimage?
According to the Catechism, "Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer. For pilgrims seeking living water, shrines are special places for living the forms of Christian prayer "in Church.'" (CCC 2691)

The Jubilee calls us to set out on a personal journey of conversion, to reconcile with God, and pilgrimages are a beautiful tool in the Church to facilitate just that. When we travel, we not only change location, but we ourselves change. 

More information:

Archdiocese of Boston