The Jubilee Year

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The Jubilee Year is a landmark moment in the life of the global church. School communities are invited to join together as pilgrims of hope, pledging to work together for God’s kingdom of justice, peace and love!

24th January 2025 marks the launch day for the Jubilee Year for all schools and colleges. Children at Holy Family took part in the launch by joining the latest Cafod Assembly and discussing their ideas on how they can be Pilgrims of Hope.

Children will be taking part in lots of different activities to celebrate the Jubilee year with ‘deep faith, lively hope and active charity’ (Pope Francis). Watch this space for further information.

Please see Cafod videos below to give more details on the Jubilee Year for both our Community and our School.

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What is a Jubilee Year?*

In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee or Holy Year is a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation, in which people are invited to come back into right relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation.

How often is a Jubilee Year?*

A Jubilee Year is celebrated by the Church every 25 years. This has been the case since 1470, when Pope Paul II changed it from every 50 years.

A Pope can also proclaim an Extraordinary Jubilee, like the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy which Pope Francis inaugurated in 2015.

What is the theme of the Jubilee Year in 2025?*

The theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can "restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone". We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God's creation in which we understand ourselves as "pilgrims on the earth" rather than masters of the world.

When does the Jubilee Year start and finish?*

The 2025 Jubilee Year begins on Christmas Eve 2024 and concludes on 6 January 2026.

What is the Biblical background for the Jubilee Year?*

The word Jubilee comes from the Hebrew word yobel, which is a ram's horn. This wind instrument is blown to mark the start of a Jubilee Year in the Bible (Leviticus 25:9).

In the Bible the Jubilee Year occurred every 50 years and involved the cancelling of debts, a period of rest for people and the earth, and land being restored to the landless.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus makes clear his own mission is to bring Jubilee. In the synagogue at Nazareth he reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming the year of the Lord's favour:

The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the Lord's year of favour." (Luke 4:18-19)

After reading, Jesus announces: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Jesus shows us what God's Kingdom of justice, compassion and freedom looks like. He invites us join him in making it a reality.

*cafod.org.uk/news/why-is-2025-a-jubilee-year-in-the-Catholic-Church?

What does this mean for us?

The Rt Rev Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds, has written out to all schools explaining that 'There will be opportunities for the whole school community to experience the joy of sharing their faith in prayer and worship and take action together as pilgrims of hope “in service to God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace.”[1]'

[1] Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 21 April 2024

The official launch day for Schools and Colleges will be Friday 24th January 2025.

Please watch this space for further information. A copy of Rt Rev Marcus Stock's letter can be read here.

jubilee for schools letter from bishop marcus stock.pdf

Holy Family 60th Anniversary Celebrations

We would like to say a huge thank you for all of the support that we received on Sunday 15th September to celebrate the 60th birthday of Holy Family Catholic Primary School.

A great day was had by all and it was wonderful to meet past staff, pupils and members of the school community and of course the parish who had many stories to tell of their time spent at Holy Family. It was a very proud moment seeing the community come together to celebrate this occasion.

We want to give a huge thank you to the stall holders and entertainment and a big thank you to members of our PTFA and current staff and pupils who contributed to the success of the day.

60th Anniversary Sunday 15th September

60th Anniversary Mass

On Wednesday 9^th October, Holy Family Primary in Swindon was visited by Bishop Bosco who delivered a very special Mass in the main school Hall in recognition of the school’s 60th Anniversary.

Past and present members of the school community, along with members of the parish gathered together within the school itself to give thanks for all the blessings received over the years - it truly was a beautiful service.

The whole school community would like to thank Bishop Bosco, Father Obi and Father Jeremy for delivering the Mass. Co-Headteachers Karen Bathe and Nadia Mossop would also like to give thanks to the all staff, governors, parents and wider school community for their continued support. They added that they would also like to give, “a very special thank you to the children of Holy Family, they truly are the heart of the school and they make us proud each and every day. We look forward to our school continuing to serve and prepare our children to become the best they can be.”