Editor: Bishop Vásquez, Pope Francis has declared 2025 a Year of Jubilee for the whole church. What is a Jubilee Year?

Bishop Vásquez: The Jubilee is an important moment for the church to center herself once again on Jesus’ message of joy and hope. This is a time of grace in the life of the church to renew herself spiritually so that we can move forward with the mission to bring Christ to the world. Jubilee 2025 is not an extraordinary year, as the Year of Faith and the Year of Mercy were, but it is one within the regular cycle of every 25 years.

The theme chosen by the Holy Father for this year is Pilgrims of Hope, which is based on the words from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Hope does not disappoint.” (Rom 5:1-2) Unfortunately, as we look around the world today, we have war, division and so much suffering. Yet, as Pope Francis writes in the papal bull establishing Jubilee 2025, “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.… For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope.”

We must remember that hope is not wishful thinking or perpetual optimism, our hope is knowing the person of Jesus Christ and knowing he triumphed over sin and death and rose from the grave. As Pilgrims of Hope, we are called to continue on the journey of life traveling toward our ultimate destination, which is to be with Christ for eternity.

Editor: How will the Diocese of Austin celebrate the Jubilee?

Bishop Vásquez: We will kick off the Jubilee with Mass on Dec. 29 at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin. Throughout 2025, we will have several parishes and university centers designated as pilgrimage sites where the faithful can visit and pray to receive a plenary indulgence; there is also the opportunity to earn an indulgence with a work of mercy or penance and those who are homebound may earn an indulgence with prayers (see box). Of course, the faithful can also travel to Rome and pass through the Holy Doors to earn an indulgence.

Editor: As we approach the new year, what are your priorities for 2025?

Bishop Vásquez: Over the last few months, I have had time on retreat with our staff and have taken the opportunity to consult with diocesan leaders regarding my priorities for 2025. The first priority is family, which is the foundation of our society. In our world we need to value and esteem family life. The church must support and protect the sacredness of our families and every individual in our families no matter their age, status or background.

My second priority is young adults. The church must value our youth and young adults who have so much to offer our society. Even within our own church, young people aren't always listened to, yet they bring so much life and enthusiasm to our church. We must invite and encourage our young people to get involved in our parishes and to help lead our ministries.

My third priority is vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The church needs more men who want to be good and holy priests to celebrate the sacraments with the people of God. And we need religious men and women who walk with the people of God. Often, I get asked why we don't have more priests in a parish, or why extern priests are sent to a parish. My reply is simple: I don't have enough priests, and our priests are aging. Therefore, we must continue to promote and pray for more vocations.

These three priorities are interconnected. The family is where the seeds of faith are planted, and in our youth and young adults those seeds begin to blossom, and hopefully some of those blossoms will become priests and religious sisters and brothers.

Editor: As we begin Jubilee 2025, what is your prayer for all of us?

Bishop Vásquez: Father of all goodness, you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be our Savior. Through his death and resurrection, he became our source of hope, a hope that does not disappoint. Filled with the Holy Spirit, send us forth as pilgrims to proclaim hope to the world. Amen.

Pilgrimage Sites in the Diocese of Austin

St. Mary Cathedral in Austin

Holy Cross Parish in Austin

Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Austin

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Temple

St. Joseph Parish in Bryan

St. Mary Parish in Lampasas

Santa Cruz Parish in Buda

St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station

University Catholic Center in Austin

St. Peter Catholic Student Center in Waco

Our Lady of Wisdom University Parish in San Marcos

Details of Jubilee Plenary Indulgences

There are four foundational conditions for all Jubilee Plenary Indulgences:

• Interior detachment from all sin
• Sacrament of reconciliation
• Holy Communion
• Prayer for the intentions of the pope

(Our Father and Hail Mary are suggested)

Then a few days before or after the above one of these three options can be met:

Option 1: Visit a designated pilgrimage site (listed above or one in Rome) and attend Mass, or the Liturgy of the Word, or pray the Liturgy of the Hours, or pray the Stations of the Cross, or pray the rosary, or spend time in Eucharistic adoration.

Option 2: Accomplish a work of mercy or penance (participate in a mission, spiritual exercises or formation activities, or visit the sick, prisoners, elderly or disabled; or abstain at least for one day a week from futile distractions and superfluous consumption, while donating to the poor or volunteering in service to the community).

Option 3: The faithful who are homebound may pray the Our Father, the Profession of Faith and other prayers in conformity with the objectives of the Holy Year, in their homes or wherever they are confined, offering up their sufferings.