Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall,
The year 2025 will be a special time for our Church, a Jubilee Year during which we are called to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Jubilee is a moment of grace, an invitation to renew our faith and walk together toward a brighter future. It is an opportunity for all of us to respond to God’s call to be witnesses of hope in this world.
In addition to the activities organized by our diocese, I encourage you to take the initiative within your parishes and deaneries to plan events that reflect the needs of your local community. This could be as simple as a shared daily prayer, moments of spiritual reflection, engaging with the homeless or prisoners, or participating in a pilgrimage to a holy site. What matters most is to live this year with vitality and commitment, responding to God’s calls and the realities and needs around us. I also encourage you to explore the resources provided by the CCCB at The Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. You will also find the link to the Dicastery for Evangelization from the Vatican and all its proposed activities for the Jubilee.
To be pilgrims of hope means to be bearers of light and a source of healing in a world often overshadowed by tribulations. Each of us has a role to play—together, let us make this year a powerful moment that strengthens our faith and deepens our bonds with one another.
May this Jubilee Year be for each of us a true source of spiritual renewal, a path of reconciliation, and a time of profound joy.
Fraternally in Jesus Christ,
+Marcel Damphousse
Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall
