2025 was proclaimed by Pope Francis as Jubilee of Hope, a year of grace, spiritual renewal and celebration. The Church has adopted the tradition of Jubilee as a time of renewal and typically celebrated every 25 years, offering plenary indulgences and special graces.
The 2025 Jubilee began with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica last December 24, 20224 where pope emphasizes on the virtue of Hope, a reminder of God’s enduring mercy and promises of salvation in a world marked by people with division, suffering, and uncertainty.
In the Diocese of Legazpi, Bishop Bong Baylon opened the 2025 Jubilee of Hope last December 29, 2024 on the Feast of the Holy Family at St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in Old Albay District, Legazpi City. The celebration began with a Procession at 4:30PM from Divine Word College Legazpi South Campus and followed by Holy Mass at 5:30PM. Among the faithful community who joined the celebration was the Parish of St. Stephen the Protomartyr, Ligao City. The parish is one of the seven churches in the diocese declared as Jubilee Church for Pilgrims of Hope. Other Pilgrim Churches are St. James the Greater Parish in Libon, Our Lady of Salvation Parish and Diocese Shrine in Joroan, St. Vincent Ferrer Parish and Diocesan Shrine in San Vicente, St. Padre Pio and Diocesan Shrine in Rawis, St. Jude Thaddeus Parish and Diocesan Shrine in Legazpi City, and St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in Legazpi City. Jubilee Churches are identified with Jubilee Cross which symbolizes Christ as the center of our hope and salvation. In the Parish of St. Stephen the Protomartyr, the Jubilee Cross was enthroned last December 31, 2024 during the Midnight Mass on the Solemnity of Mary Mother of Jesus. The Cross is located at the Church’s Sanctuary as reminder of the graces available to all who come in faith and devotion for the whole year.
The Church of St. Stephen the Protomartyr is open to all the pilgrims the whole year of 2025. The pilgrims or Camino de Esperanza must receive the Sacraments of Confession and Eucharist, pray for the Pope’s intentions, and perform acts of charity of mercy. By fulfilling these, you can receive graces and a plenary indulgence, a remission of temporal punishment due to sin.
