OUR YEAR OF JUBILEE, 2025

This year, as a Parish, we were called to celebrate a Year of Jubilee, to be “Pilgrims of Hope”. The aim was to find ways to come together to share experiences and discover the mercy and blessings of God anew.

So, what has this involved for us in St Theresa’s Parish?

The list below is just some of the ways we have aimed to be “Pilgrims of Hope”.

·        A Jubilee banner was displayed on the lecterns

·        A Mass with our Auxiliary Bishop to launch our year of Jubilee was celebrated in February

·        Jubilee candles were obtained at the Archdiocese Mass at the beginning of the year with one candle for each Church. They have been used at each Mass throughout the year.

·        We distributed small candles with the Jubilee logo on it for each family to use when they prayed together

·        The Jubilee prayer was prayed at every Mass for the year

·        A laminated bookmark with the Jubilee Prayer was distributed to each Parishioner for personal prayer at home

·        We held Lenten reflection sessions during Lent

·        We prayed the Stations of the Cross during Lent

·        The 2^nd Rite of Reconciliation was celebrated in Holy Week

·        We featured a “Pilgrim of the month” in newsletters throughout the year, introducing just some of the members of our community

·        We held a Movie night featuring the life of Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross

·        We have introduced a new program of ALPHA, a small group initiative aimed at bringing people into a relationship with Jesus

·        We celebrated the Feasts of Queen of Heaven in September and St Theresa in October.

·        The Carmelite Sisters were invited to speak about St Theresa at the morning tea after the feast day Mass

·        We distributed prayer cards for the Feast of St Thersa with our Parish prayer

·        We have made “Hope bags” for those who have been unable to come to Mass regularly throughout the year. (Our “missing” parishioners), including a personalised Christmas card made by the children from Mother of God school, a Pilgrim of Hope cross, a Jubilee bookmark, a St Theresa’s prayer card, a Jubilee candle, a felt “healing” heart to hold

·        Christmas cards have been made by the school children for all parishioners to take after the Christmas Vigil Mass