Saint Joseph School Celebrates the Beginning of the Jubilee Year 2025 – The Year of Hope

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, Saint Joseph School students joined parishioners and clergy for a special Mass at Saint Joseph Basilica to mark the beginning of the church’s Jubilee Year, The Year of Hope. This momentous occasion united the school community, reinforcing its shared faith, renewal, and Hope.

A Catholic Jubilee Year is a special year of grace and spiritual renewal, observed every 25 years. It is a time for Catholics worldwide to grow closer to God through prayer, reconciliation, and acts of service. The Jubilee Year 2025, centered on the theme of Hope, was inaugurated by Pope Francis in December when he ceremoniously opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, symbolizing the passage to salvation and new beginnings.

This year also marks the 75th Jubilee of the Diocese of Worcester, a significant milestone in the history of our local Catholic community. This celebration and the global Jubilee Year make it a considerable time for the school community.

The Mass at Saint Joseph Basilica began with a welcome by Pastor and Headmaster Rev. Grzegorz Chodkowski.  Associate Pastor Rev. Anthony Kazarnowicz then read Bishop Robert McManus’ decree designating the 10 pilgrimage churches in the Diocese of Worcester. These churches serve as exceptional spiritual destinations for prayer and reflection throughout the Jubilee Year.  In his decree, Bishop Robert McManus emphasized the significance of pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year, stating, ‘A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place undertaken as an act of religious devotion, symbolizing our life’s journey towards God.’ He encouraged the faithful to visit the designated pilgrimage churches to seek spiritual renewal and deepen their faith during this special time. More importantly, Bishop McManus’ decree opened the jubilee year in the Diocese of Worcester.

A procession followed the reading of the decree and was led by Rev. Chodkowski, who carried a special jubilee crucifix around the basilica. Included in the procession were altar servers, the Children of Mary, Saint Joseph School students, faculty, staff, and members of the Saint Joseph Parish Council. Saint Joseph School eighth-grade student and Student Council President Oluwatobiloba Akindele also played a unique role by having the honor of carrying Bishop Robert McManus’ decree.

After the procession, Sr. Jeanne Marie Akalski read Pope Francis’ bull of indiction, SPES NON CONFUNDIT “Hope Does Not Disappoint”. This document officially declared the Jubilee Year and invited Catholics worldwide to embrace Hope as a guiding principle in their lives.

Special Mass festivities also included inspiring readings from students. Fourth-grader Rylan Shemansky shared a heartfelt poem, Seeds of Hope, in honor of the Jubilee Year. Julia Biela followed with a moving recitation of Together in Faith, a tribute to the Diocese of Worcester’s rich history and commitment to faith and service. Rev. Chodkowski concluded the rite of introduction with the Jubilee Year Prayer that Saint Joseph School students will recite each morning.

Saint Joseph School students played significant and proud roles in the Liturgy of the Word, a testament to their growing faith and understanding of the Catholic tradition. Eighth-grade student Jada Jackson had the privilege of reading the first reading from Isaiah, which speaks of God’s everlasting strength and the renewal of our strength. Her classmate and Student Council Vice President Ayla Reed, read the second reading from Acts. Oluwatobiloba Akindele also participated in reading the Prayer of the Faithful, which is a moment for the congregation to voice their prayers and petitions. The Children of Mary members assisted in the offertory, further demonstrating the active involvement of the students in the Mass.

The Jubilee music during the Mass, beautifully led by the Saint Joseph School Children’s Choir under the direction of Organist Maria Helena Czarnecka-Cieślak, added a joyful and uplifting tone to the celebration, resonating with the spirit of the Jubilee Year and inspiring everyone present.

Following the Mass, the students, faculty, and staff gathered for a large group picture to commemorate the occasion. Students were then treated to donuts and juice in the rectory, hosted by Principal Beth Boudreau, Assistant Principal Mary Ann Weaver, and Rev. Chodkowski.

The day profoundly reminded everyone of the spiritual and communal strength of the Saint Joseph School community. It set a hopeful and joyful tone for the year ahead, inspiring everyone in attendance to embrace the Jubilee message and carry its lessons into their daily lives.

As the Jubilee Year 2025 unfolds, Saint Joseph School remains committed to fostering Hope, faith, and renewal in its students and the broader community during this extraordinary time of grace

Click HERE to view the photo album.