IMUS CITY, CAVITE — The Diocese of Imus, which comprises the entire Philippine province of Cavite, formally opened the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope" on the evening of Dec. 29, 2024, Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

His Excellency, Most Rev. Reynaldo G. Evangelista, D.D., bishop of Imus, led the Jubilee Year opening, first at the Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic School (OLPCS) before ending in a Holy Mass at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar (Imus Cathedral) in Imus City.

An hour prior to the formal opening, the Collectio or assembly of the faithful happened at the OLPCS grounds, where members of the Diocesan Youth Ministry sang hymns, read Bible passages and shared stories of hope.

During the opening rites, Bishop Evangelista led the assembly in praising God (Psalm 33:20–22), followed by the reading of the Gospel (John 14:1-7) and excerpts from the Papal Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee based on the theme Spes non confundit ("Hope does not disappoint,” Romans 5:5).

 The attendees from different parishes in Cavite thereafter set out for procession from the school towards Imus Cathedral, carrying the Jubilee Cross while chanting the antiphon, "Si Kristo kahapon, ngayon at kailanman. Sa Kanya ang karangalan at kaluwalhatian magpasawalang hanggan." ("Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever… to whom be glory forever," taken from Hebrews 13:8, 21)

Upon entry at the Cathedral gate, the carrying of the cross was symbolically passed on to three sectors of the Church in the following order: the aged or elderly, the youth and the children. The Jubilee Cross was enthroned near the baptismal font where Bishop Evangelista blessed the Holy Water and sprinkled it to the faithful.

In his homily during the Mass, Bishop Evangelista said he was touched when he saw that many came to attend the Jubilee Year opening, with the cathedral patio full of Caviteños from parishes as far as the towns of Mendez and Maragondon. He also thanked the parish priests who came to concelebrate despite their busy schedule. 

The bishop added that it is right to celebrate the opening of the Jubilee Year that day in obedience to the declaration of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

In his Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee, the Holy Father decreed "that on Sunday, 29 December 2024, in every cathedral and co-cathedral, diocesan bishops are to celebrate Holy Mass as the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year, using the ritual indications that will be provided for that occasion."

Bishop Evangelista also read the reflections of His Eminence, Pablo Virgilio S. Cardinal David, D.D., in his pastoral letter as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the Jubilee Year opening. Cardinal David noted the Filipinos' frequently said words, "Habang may buhay, may pag-asa," ("While there is life, there is hope"), "May awa ang Diyos," ("God is merciful") and "Diyos na ang bahala" ("God will take care of it"), which may sound fatalistic but reflect strong faith, putting God in control of everything.

"Our hope is rooted in our love for God. If we believe that God is love, we will never lose hope. Let us be witnesses of hope, especially to those who are weak in faith," Bishop Evangelista said.

The local ordinary further noted that the celebration of the Jubilee Year is timely as the Church in Cavite prepares for the first Diocesan Synod in 2026.

Towards the end of his homily, the bishop encouraged the faithful to visit the 20 parishes and shrines designated as Jubilee churches across the Diocese. The pilgrim churches were grouped according to the five core values enshrined in the diocesan vision of "maging sambayanang Kristiyanong maka-Diyos, makatao, makabuhay, maka-kalikasan at makabayan" (a Christian community for God, People, Life, Environment and Country).

Pilgrims are encouraged to visit at least five of the Jubilee churches, with the visits to be certified through a 'pilgrim's passport' that will be distributed in February. They will accordingly receive plenary indulgences, so long as they are in a ‘state of grace' with God, which can be achieved through going to Confession, receiving the Holy Eucharist and praying for the Pope's intentions.

The pilgrims will also be asked to answer survey forms with some questions on how local Church programs respond to the diocesan core values. The forms will be dropped in boxes located inside the pilgrim churches.

The Jubilee churches were formally declared by virtue of decrees issued by Bishop Evangelista and read during Holy Masses celebrated in those churches on Dec. 31, 2024, the eve of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

The list of Jubilee churches in the Diocese of Imus includes:

• Grouped according to the core value of Maka-Diyos: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar (Imus Cathedral, Imus City); National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette (Biga, Silang); Saint Gregory the Great Parish (Indang); and Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception (Naic)

• Grouped according to the core value of Makatao: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima (Binakayan, Kawit); Immaculate Conception Parish (Dasmariñas City); Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Tagaytay City); and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (Maragondon)

• Grouped according to the core value of Makabuhay: Saint Michael the Archangel Parish (Bacoor City); Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish (DBB-1, Dasmariñas City); St. Augustine Parish (Mendez-Nuñez); and Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Reina del Caracol (Rosario)

• Grouped according to the core value of Maka-Kalikasan: Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga and Parish of San Roque (San Roque, Cavite City); Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Silang); Saint Joseph Parish (Carmona); and St. Francis of Assisi Parish (General Trias City)

• Grouped according to the core value of Makabayan: Diocesan Shrine of Saint Augustine and Parish of Santa Cruz (Tanza); Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Mary Magdalene (Kawit); St. Jude Thaddeus Parish (Trece Martires City); and Sto. Niño de Molino Parish (Molino, Bacoor City)

Pope Francis officially began the Jubilee Year 2025 earlier on Dec. 24, 2024, by leading the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, before the Midnight Mass for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord.

Ordinary Jubilee years in the Catholic Church happen only every 25 years, the next being in 2050. (Maria Cristina V. Santos and Mark Anthony B. Gubagaras, SOCCOM-Diocese of Imus; photo grab from the Jubilee 2025 - Diocese of Imus Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122108099864694675&set=pcb.122108105174694675)