More than 35 events are planned in Rome during the 2025 Jubilee Year. The majority are small one or two-day gatherings which will include a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica and an audience with Pope Francis. However, the longest and largest event will be the Jubilee of Youth from July 28 to August 3.
Based on the World Youth Day during the Great Jubilee of 2000 in Rome, next year’s Jubilee of Youth will begin with a pilgrim welcome in St Peter’s Square. As it did with St Pope John Paul II, the event will conclude with an evening vigil (sleepout) and early morning Papal Mass at Tor Vergata. The week will focus on evangelisation around the city via a variety of cultural events and pilgrimages through the holy doors, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which will be offered at the Circus Maximus.
The Jubilee of Youth will be a major event for Europe, as the next WYD in 2027 in South Korea may see limited numbers from Europe make the pilgrimage to Asia. For Australia, the Jubilee of Youth is the second of three international youth events in five years (2023-2027), and most dioceses don’t have the resources to send their own pilgrimage to all three events.
Further, it has been noted in recent years that many dioceses and local churches have struggled to fill youth ministry leadership roles as part of local and international youth ministry initiatives. This is due to the slowed, or in some cases, halted, identification and formation of emerging young Catholic leaders through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry (BCELM) is aware of these matters and is offering a unique opportunity to help.
Over the coming months, the National Centre for Evangelisation (an office of the BCELM) is seeking expressions of interest for an Emerging Youth Ministry Leaders Pilgrimage to the Jubilee of Youth. Combining the highlights and spiritual impact of an international youth event with strategic leadership formation and networking, the pilgrimage will seek to broaden understanding and equip youth ministry leaders with a global formative experience.
The pilgrimage is proposed to include pre-formation with a variety of Australian youth ministry leaders, several days of formation and visitation to sites in Rome, participation in the Jubilee of Youth events and unique international dialogue session, a concluding retreat, and ongoing accompaniment upon the return home. Currently proposed for 16 days at approximately $9,990 per pilgrim, places are limited, and participants must be nominated by their diocesan bishops.
The Emerging Youth Ministry Leaders Pilgrimage is being proposed as a pathway for leaders to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2025, hosted by the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Emerging leaders are encouraged to fill leadership positions on diocesan pilgrimages to the Youth Festival, explore the Jubilee theme with young pilgrims and accompany returning pilgrims to their diocese. The Youth Festival is an expression and experience of the Church in Australia and is anticipated to gather more than 10,000 young Australians.
For further information about the proposed Emerging Youth Ministry Leaders Pilgrimage, visit the NCE website: www.nce.catholic.org.au/jubileeyouth
Links
Jubilee of Youth – Emerging Youth Ministry Leaders Pilgrimage
Image: Neil Helmore
Words: Malcolm Hart