Liturgical Themes 2024/25
'PILGRIMS OF HOPE' - JUBILEE YEAR -https://www.cbcew.org.uk/jubilee-2025-letter-from-pope-francis/
The Holy Father has decided that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee, something which happens every 25 years. The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”, and it will be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic, and a climate crisis. Preparations for the 2025 Year of Jubilee will begin in Advent 2023, which will mark the start of a year of prayer. The Bishops’ Conference will be producing resources for the preparatory year of prayer, focusing on the Our Father, as well as resources about Jubilee in the Catholic Church.
The Jubilee prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen.
Official prayer from Pope Francis for the Jubilee year 2025, "Pilgrims of hope”
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Week Beginning |
THEME |
Gospel Reading |
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2nd September |
New Beginnings |
“You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.” Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 |
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9th September |
Let us Listen |
“If they listen to you, you have won them over.” Matthew 18:15-20 |
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16th September |
Who do people say I am? |
“But you,” he asked, “Who do you say I am?" Mark 8:27-35 |
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23rd September |
Servant of all |
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:30-37 |
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30th September |
Good Deeds |
“Do not stop anyone from working a miracle in my name.” Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48 |
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7th October |
Count your blessings |
“For it is to such as these (little children) that the Kingdom of God belongs.” Mark 10:2-16 |
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14th October |
Justice for all |
“Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor…. then come, follow me.” Mark 10:17-30 |
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21st October |
Serving others |
“Anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all.” Mark 10:35-45 |
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Half term break - Monday 28th October - Friday 2nd November 2024 |
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4th November |
The Greatest Commandment |
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-34 |
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11thNovember |
Give all you have |
“This poor widow has put in more than all.” Mark 12:38-44 |
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18th November |
Why do we remember them? |
“The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of heaven will be shaken.” Mark 13:24-32 |
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25th November |
Christ the King |
“Jesus says, “Mine is not a kingdom of this world.” John 18:33-47 |
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2nd December |
What are we waiting for? |
“Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 |
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9th December |
Being a witness |
“A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord…” Luke 3:1-6 |
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16th December |
All things are possible |
‘What about us? What must we do?’ Luke 3:10-18 |
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HALF TERM - Monday 23rd December 2024 - Friday 3rd January 2025 |
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Pope prayer intention for January 2025 |
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6th January |
The Epiphany |
“The Word was made flesh and lived among us.” Matthew 2:1-12 |
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13th January |
Being responsible |
“And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you”. Luke 3:15-16,21-22 |
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20th January |
Pilgrims of Hope |
“Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-11 |
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27th January |
Choices |
“This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.” Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21 |
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3rd February |
Courage |
“They became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” Luke 2:22-40 |
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10th February |
Dedication |
“They left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:1-11 |
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Half term - Monday 17th - 21st February 2025 |
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24th February |
Be Bold and do good |
“Love your enemies.” Luke 6:27-38 |
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3rd March |
Compassion |
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart” Luke 6:39-45 |
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10th March |
Being tempted |
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” Luke 4:1-13 |
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17th March |
Dare to shine |
“As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed, and his clothes became brilliant as lightning.” Luke 9:28-36 |
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24th March |
Repentance |
“But unless you repent, you too will all perish” Luke 13:1-9 |
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31st March |
Forgiveness |
“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity.” Luke 15:1-3,11-32 |
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Half term break - Monday 7th -21st April (Easter) |
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22nd April |
Love conquers all |
“the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” John 20:1-9 |
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27th April |
Faith |
“You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” John 20:19-31 |
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5th May |
Bravery |
“Do you love me?” John 21:1-19 |
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12th May |
Belonging |
“Jesus said, “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice.” John 10:27-30 |
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19th May |
Being a disciple |
“By this love you have for one another, everyone will know you are my disciples.” John 13:31-33,34-35 |
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Half term break - 26th - 30th May 2025 |
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2nd June |
Spirit filled |
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.” Acts 2:1-21 |
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9th June |
The Church community |
“The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.” John 14:15-16. 23-26 |
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16th June |
Truth |
“The Spirit of truth will lead you to the complete truth.” John 16:12-15 |
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23rd June |
Human rights |
“Give them something to eat yourselves.” Luke 9:11-17 |
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30th June |
Know who you are |
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-19 |
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7th July |
Travelling light |
“Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals.” Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 |
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14th July |
Who is my neighbour? |
“Who is my neighbour?” Luke 10:25-37 |
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21st July |
Achievement |
“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:38-42 |
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The colour of the shading is indicative of the Liturgical colours used by the Church at different times or seasons of the year.
Green: ‘Ordinary Time’ refers to the part of the year outside the seasons of Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter. There are 33/34 weeks of Ordinary Time. During this time the Church helps us to reflect on the life and work of Jesus. The liturgical colour for Ordinary Time is green, a colour seen everywhere in trees and plants and a symbol of life and hope.
Purple is used during Advent and Lent as a sign of penance, sacrifice and preparation. At the midpoint of both of these seasons—Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Lent—rose (pink) vestments are traditionally worn as a sign of joy: we rejoice at the midpoint because we are half-way through the preparation and anticipate the coming joy of Christmas or Easter.
Rose is a lighter version of purple because it signifies the penitential purple is mixed with the white of the approaching festival. In both Advent and Lent there is a moment when the atmosphere of penance is brightened by a glimpse of light from the glorious season for which we are preparing ourselves. The third Sunday of Advent tells us ‘Gaudéte, rejoice!’ because the Lord is near and the fourth Sunday of Lent says ‘Laetáre, Ierúsalem, be joyful, Jerusalem, and all who love her!’ because she herself is loved by the Lord.
Red symbolises the shedding of blood and is therefore used on Palm Sunday (when Christ entered Jerusalem to prepare for His death), Good Friday, any other commemoration of the Lord's passion, the votive Mass of the Precious Blood, the days marking the martyrdom of the apostles (except St. John), and the feasts of other martyrs who offered their lives for the faith. However, red also signifies the burning fire of God's love. For this reason, red vestments are won on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and tongues of fire rested on their heads and for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
White or gold, a colour symbolising rejoicing and purity of soul, is worn during the liturgical seasons of Christmas and Easter. White vestments are also used for feasts of our Lord (except those pertaining to His passion), the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints who were not martyrs.