A Time of Grace and Renewal

Understanding the Jubilee Year:

A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on the spiritual life. In the Hebrew tradition, as recorded in Leviticus, a Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years with the freeing of slaves and the forgiveness of debts. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first Christian Jubilee, and since then the Church has designated each new Jubilee as a special year of grace and forgiveness, offering the faithful an opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence. 

Official Giubileo 2025 website 

Saint Peter’s Basilica digital tour/experience

The Jubilee Year began with the rite of the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve. The conclusion of this holy year will be Dec 28th 2025. In the Diocese of Owensboro to embrace our spirit in “Pilgrimage of Hope” for this Jubilee year we have created a list of pilgrimage sites around our Diocese where one can gain an indulgence.

What is a Plenary Indulgence?

A plenary indulgence is a special grace from God that removes all the temporal punishment due to sin. It’s a way for us to grow closer to God and deepen our faith while also praying for the intentions of the Church.

How to Receive a Plenary Indulgence During the Jubilee Year

If you make a pilgrimage to one of the 6 designated Jubilee pilgrimage sites, you can receive a plenary indulgence by:

1. Detaching from all sin: This means having a sincere desire to turn away from even small sins and grow in holiness.
2. Going to confession, receiving holy Communion, and praying for the pope’s intentions:
   • These steps can be done a few days before or after your visit to the pilgrimage site, but it’s ideal to receive Communion and say the prayer on the same day.
   • For the prayer, you can say any prayer you choose, but an Our Father and a Hail Mary are suggested.

Additional Notes

• • • One indulgence per day: You can receive a plenary indulgence only once a day.
    • Frequent confession is encouraged: While one confession can cover multiple indulgences, going to confession regularly helps us grow in grace and holiness.

At the designated locations below, you will find a passport booklet to be stamp at each location, along with prayer cards and scavenger hunts for children to also be able to participate.

• St. Stephen Cathedral, Owensboro

  • Mass schedule:

    Saturday: 9 AM & 4:30 PM
    Sunday: 8:30 AM & 11 AM
    Monday – Friday: 7 AM & 12:05 PM    

    Adoration: Saturday 9:30 AM-11:00 AM                  

    Confession Times: Saturday 9:30 AM-11:00 AM

• St. Romuald Parish, Hardinsburg

  • Mass schedule:

    Saturday: 5 PM

    Sunday: 7 & 10 AM

    Monday – Thursday: 5 PM

    Friday: 9 AM  

    Confessions:

    Wednesday 4 – 4:30 PM  Saturday 4 – 4:30 PM

    Adoration:

    The first Friday of the month after 9 am Mass until before 8 am Mass the following day.

• St. Leo, Murray 

  • Mass:

    Saturday/Sabado: 4 PM (English) & 5:30 PM (Spanish/Espanol)

    Sunday: 8 AM & 11 AM

    Monday – Thursday 12:05 PM

    Adoration: Wednesday 8AM-6PM

    Confession:

    Tuesday 11 AM-11:45 AM

    Wednesday 5PM -5:45 PM

    Saturday 3PM-3:45PM

• St Francis de Sales Parish, Paducah

  • Mass:

    Saturday: 5 PM

     Sunday: 8:30 & 11 AM

    Tuesday – Thursday: 12:05 PM

    Friday: 8 AM

     

    Adoration: First Friday of the Month 8:30 – noon

    Confessions: Friday Following 8AM Mass -9:45AM

• The Diocesan Marian Shrine at St. Joseph, Bowling Green

  •  
  • To access the Marian Shrine at St. Joseph, please reach out to the front office for code at (270) 683-5641
  •  

• Holy Redeemer Parish, Beaverdam

  • Mass schedule:

    Saturday 4 PM (English) & 5:30 PM (Espanol)

    Sunday 11 AM (English)Wednesday 5:30 (English)

    Thursday 5:30 (Spanish)

    Friday 8 AM (English)

    Adoration: Friday after 8 am Mass until 7PM

    Confession:

    Wednesday 5PM

    Thursday 5 PM

     

     

Once you have all the stamps, turn them into the diocese to receive tote bag, below: 

Passport Submission Form through Google

If you do not have a Google account, you can email pictures of your stamps to our office to receive tote bag: communications@pastoral.org

 

THE JUBILEE PRAYER
Father in heaven, may the faith you
have given us in your son, Jesus Christ,
enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope for the
coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless
cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within
both humanity and the whole cosmos in
the sure expectation of a new heaven
and a new earth, when, with the powers
of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine
eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken
in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for
the treasures of heaven. May that same
grace spread the joy and peace of our
Redeemer throughout the earth. To you
our God, eternally blessed, be glory and
praise for ever. Amen

(link)  10 things to know about Jubilee 2025, the Holy Year that begins Dec. 24 – OSV News 

(link)  What is the Jubilee?

Learn more by visiting the Vatican Jubilee 2025 Website: Iubilaeum 2025
Also check out the USCCB web page for the Jubilee of Young People.