Jubilee Year 2025 – A Pilgrimage of Hope

The year 2025 is a moment of immense grace for the Universal Church, as Pope Francis has declared it a Jubilee Year – A Pilgrimage of Faith. Across the world, Catholics are invited to deepen their faith, renew their commitment to Christ, and celebrate the mercy of God through prayer, penance, and pilgrimage.

For the Archdiocese of Bombay, this Jubilee Year carries a special significance. His Eminence, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, has announced select pilgrim churches across the Archdiocese where the faithful can receive special spiritual blessings, indulgences, and participate in Jubilee devotions.

Among these sacred places, some of the most renowned and historic churches have been highlighted:

• The Cathedral of the Holy Name, Colaba – the mother church of the Archdiocese, a beacon of faith and history.
• The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra (Mount Mary’s) – a shrine that draws lakhs of pilgrims every year in devotion to Our Blessed Mother.
• The Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Karjat – a center of peace and prayer nestled amidst nature’s beauty.
And with deep joy and gratitude, we share that Our Lady of Vailankanni Shrine, Uttan has also been chosen as one of the official Jubilee Pilgrim Shrines.

This recognition is not only an honor but also a testimony to the living faith of countless devotees who flock here, year after year, to seek the intercession of Mother Mary of Vailankanni. From humble beginnings as a small chapel by the sea, the shrine has grown into a spiritual home for pilgrims from across Mumbai, Thane, and beyond.

To be listed alongside such historic and iconic churches of our Archdiocese is indeed a blessing – and a call for all of us, the faithful of Mira-Bhayandar and Uttan, to live the Jubilee spirit with renewed fervor.

As we step into this holy year, let us embrace the words of Pope Francis: “A Jubilee is a time of grace to be experienced through pilgrimage, conversion, and prayer.”

Our Lady of Vailankanni, pray for us.