Jubilee Candle Pilgrimage 2025

The Jubilee is a special year of grace in the Catholic Church. It is a
time for renewal of faith, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It is a time
for the faithful to give themselves more fully to the Lord Jesus and
feel His mercy and forgiveness.

The theme of Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope”, with Pope Francis calling on the world to “fan the flame of hope that has been given us”.

The Holy Father said:

“Let us pray that this upcoming Jubilee may strengthen us in our faith, helping us to recognise the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope.”

How we have been involved

The Archdiocese of Southwark has run a series of events and published a wide range of resources, from prayer materials to a major event that occurred in Aylesford on Saturday 07 June 2025. As a key part of the series of events, Archbishop John tasked KCSP CEO, Annemarie Whittle, to visit every Catholic school located within Kent and Medway over the course of 2025, with a special Jubilee Candle of Hope.

When visiting each school, Annemarie, together with Joanne Burford, the Trust's Catholic Life and RE Adviser, joined pupils and staff for a special Mass or celebration of the word.

The Candle's journey was completed between January and September 2025; 41 schools were visited, almost 750 miles travelled, and nearly 16,000 pupils and staff involved. It was an incredible pilgrimage and we thank everyone who was able to be a part of it.

You can view the Candle of Hope's entire journey here.

Archbishop John Wilson's message to schools for Jubilee 2025