We are excited to announce that Aquinas College will host numerous intellectual programs to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

A Jubilee is a special year rooted in biblical tradition, originally marked every 50 years as a time of renewal, forgiveness, and restoration, symbolized by the blowing of a ram's horn (yobel). It called for the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow year for the fields. The Catholic Church formalized the Jubilee as a "Holy Year," beginning in 1300, with its frequency evolving over time to occur every 25 years, along with occasional extraordinary Jubilees like the 2015 Year of Mercy. 

In his inauguration of the year, Pope Francis called us to become "Pilgrims of Hope." He stated, "We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire..."  

For more information about Jubilee events, check out the Diocese of Grand Rapids Event Calendar and issues of Faith Magazine.