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2025 Jubilee Year: "Pilgrims of hope"
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Welcome to the portion of Holy Trinity's website dedicated to the 2025 Jubilee Year, "Pilgrims of Hope"!
On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis released the Bull of Indiction Spes non confundit (“Hope does not disappoint”) announcing the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025, to run from Dec. 24, 2024 to Jan., 6, 2026. On Dec. 24, 2024, Bishop Francis Malone opened the jubilee year here in the Diocese of Shreveport and named four churches as places of pilgrimage: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, St. Matthew Church in Monroe, and St. John the Baptist in Many.
In light of this sacred occasion, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, distinguished as the Minor Shrine of the Shreveport Martyrs, plans to engage the lay faithful of the Diocese of Shreveport in this global event of faith, mercy, and renewal. We have many initiatives under way to enhance the spiritual journey of pilgrims, educate our parish and visitors on the profound significance of the Jubilee, and ensure that all participate in the grace of indulgences according to Church tradition.
With careful planning, we intend to honor the legacy of the Five Priests, Servants of God while fostering an environment of prayer, service, and communal celebration. The following are among our actions to make Holy Trinity and the other places of pilgrimage to be beacons of the Jubilee spirit, “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Highlighting Our Parish's Participation!- Jubilee Logo and Banner: Look for our beautiful retractable rollup banner in our church vestibule.
- Jubilee and the Shreveport Martyrs: Look-for our logo for the Jubilee Year at Holy Trinity, focusing on the Five Priests of the 1873 Yellow Fever Epidemic, Servants of God. (the "Shreveport Martyrs"). The jubilee logo will be featured on our church bulletins and promotional materials, creating a visual identity for the event.
- Vestments: Look for Masses to be celebrated with Jubilee logo chasubles, dalmatics, and altar linens throughout the year.
- Prayer Cards and Visitor Logs: All pilgrims and visitors are invited to sign the visitor log in our West transept.
- Special Jubilee Masses: The Opening Mass was held Dec. 24, 2024 at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans. Look for additional Masses themed around the Jubilee, concluding with the closing of the Jubilee Year. Each will incorporate prayers for the intentions of the Pope, which is a requirement for earning indulgences.
- Pilgrimage Walks: Check out our Jubilee Year brochures. One features a "North Louisiana Pilgrim Guide" for travelers to see many important sites that showcase the Pilgrim Destinations and other historically important locations in the Diocese of Shreveport.
- Community Events and Community Gatherings
Features for Pilgrims- Holy Door? During the 2025 Ordinary Jubilee Year, Holy Doors are exclusively located at the four Major Basilicas in Rome (unlike the Extraordinary Jubilee Year, when Holy Doors were designated in cathedrals worldwide). Pilgrims visiting officially designated Pilgrimage Sites may enter through any door during specified hours.
- Pilgrim Prayer Areas: We especially encourage pilgrims and visitors to Holy Trinity to pray by the Minor Shrine of the Shreveport Martyrs, located in our West Transept. Visitors may document and submit prayer intentions, and purchase and light candles.
- Guided Tours: Holy Trinity offers guided tours of our church by appointment during the 2025 Jubilee Year. Our tours focus on the history of our beautiful and historic parish, and especially emphasize the Shreveport Martyrs and the Jubilee Year!
- Holy Trinity is pleased to offer Printed Materials and promotional merchandise to enhance our visitors' experience here.
- Spiritual mini-retreats
- Promotional Merchandise
- Holy Water Bottles with Jubilee Year logo
- Jubilee Medals and Holy Cards
- Devotional Candles
- Jubilee Rosaries (sorry, sold out!)
- Prayer Books or Booklets
Education and Faith Formation- Workshops on Indulgences!
- Lectures on Church History!
- Interactive Sessions!
- Catechism Classes!
- Artistic and Cultural Expressions!
- Websites and Social Media Enhancements!
- Pilgimage Opportunities!
Rules for Earning Indulgences- Confession and Communion: Clearly communicate that to gain a plenary indulgence, one must go to confession and receive Holy Communion, ideally within 20 days before or after the act that gains the indulgence.
- Prayers for the Pope: Emphasize the need to pray for the Pope's intentions. This could be incorporated into all Jubilee events, perhaps with a specific prayer or a moment of silence during services.
- Detachment from Sin: Teach that one must be detached from any sin, even venial, to gain a plenary indulgence.
- Documentation: Provide a simple checklist or card for pilgrims to keep track of these conditions.