Jubilee Year opens in Diocese of Boise

Cathedral Rector Father Germán Osorio (foreground) and Parochial Vicar Father Tim Segert carry the Jubilee cross into the Boise Cathedral during the entrance procession on Dec 29. (Courtesy Photo/Colton Machado)

By Emily Woodham

Staff Writer

BOISE—Bishop Peter F. Christensen opened the Jubilee Year for the Diocese of Boise on Dec. 29, on the Feast of the Holy Family. “Pilgrims of Hope” is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for Jubilee 2025.

“The mystery of the Incarnation of our Savior Jesus Christ, fostered in the communion of love of the Holy Family of Nazareth, is for us the ground of deep joy and certain hope,” Bishop Peter said in the opening rite on the steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. “In fellowship with the Universal Church, as we celebrate the love of the Father that reveals itself in the Flesh of the Word-made-Man and in the Sign of the Cross, the Anchor of Salvation, we solemnly open the Jubilee Year for the Church of the Diocese of Boise, throughout the State of Idaho.”

Since 1300, the Church has celebrated jubilees at regular intervals, now occurring every 25 years. A special Holy Door is traditionally opened at local cathedrals at the start of a holy year. However, for the 2025 jubilee, the only Holy Doors opened are in Rome, at three papal basilicas and a prison. Pope Francis made this decision to encourage pilgrims to visit the See of St. Peter. The pope opened the first Holy Door for the jubilee year in Rome on Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Basilica. Rome will also host special festivities throughout the year to celebrate different vocations in the Church.

Jubilee 2025 officially began in the Diocese of Boise on Dec. 29. For the remainder of the holy year, pilgrims journeying to the Cathedral can venerate the special Jubilee Cross. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

Instead of a Holy Door, dioceses around the globe will venerate jubilee crosses. Pilgrims in the Diocese of Boise can venerate a hand-carved cross containing a relic of the True Cross.

“This opening rite of the Jubilee Year is for us the prelude to a rich experience of grace and mercy,” Bishop Peter said. “We are always to respond to whomever asks for the reason for the hope that is in us, especially in this time of war, discord, agony, and suffering in our world. May Christ, our peace and our hope, be our companion on the journey in this year of grace and consolation. May the Holy Spirit, who today begins this work both in us and with us, bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.”

In his homily, Bishop Peter called attention to an ancient Christian symbol of hope: the anchor. Early Christians connected the anchor with the Cross. The anchor cross is one of the oldest Christian symbols, found on tombs in the ancient Roman catacombs, on gravestones and in Christian art.

“As a sailor, you never leave home without an anchor,” said Bishop Peter, an avid sailor. “An anchor is really a fitting image for hope.” An anchor gives a sailor safety, comfort and security. Hope in Christ does the same for Christians,” said Bishop Peter, echoing the Letter to the Hebrews: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (6:19).

Bishop Peter explained that anchors are set to a ratio of seven feet of rope to one foot of depth. This is so that the rope has slack, making the anchor set itself deeply into the soil bed of the body of water. If the anchor were dropped directly beneath the boat, the anchor wouldn’t set correctly. The vessel should not hover directly over the anchor.

“In the same way, give the Lord some slack. Sometimes, we call on the Lord and ask Him for what we want or think we need, but we don’t do it with an act of faith. We need to trust in the Lord to do His work. Place your hope in Him and let Him do His job.”

To illustrate our need to refrain from hovering, Bishop Peter quoted from “The Surrender Novena,” one of his favorites.

He explained that “Surrender to Me” does not mean to fret or to lose hope, nor does it mean offering God a worried prayer, asking Him to follow us and change our worries into worship. Such nervous petition is like the confusion children feel when they ask their mother for help, but then try to take care of those needs themselves so that their childlike efforts get in their mother’s way. “Surrender means to placidly close the eyes of the soul, turning away from thoughts of tribulation and putting yourself in Jesus’ care,” said Bishop Peter.

The Jubilee cross contains a relic of the True Cross. (Courtesy Photo/Colton Machado).

The rope of the anchor is called the “rode.” The last five to seven feet of the rode is made of chain to keep the anchor weighted down at the right level, absorb shock, and give more security against fraying.

Bishop Peter explained, “The sturdy chain of our lives is our lived faith and certainly the Sacraments—the Eucharist being the most fundamental of all. It keeps our faith grounded. It takes the shock out of the storms of our life, keeping our focus more on the set anchor of hope than being worried about each wave and blast of wind that comes our way in life. It protects us, keeps us close to our Lord, and secures our relationship with Him so that our hope in Him is secure.”

“He shows us the way home, and no storm can divert us from Him when we rely on Him, the anchor of our lives here on earth,” he said.

Bishop Peter then quoted from the hymn, “How Can I Keep from Singing,” which has as its refrain: “No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging; since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?”

After encouraging the faithful again to trust Jesus and surrender to Him, Bishop Peter concluded, “Let’s be Pilgrims of Hope this new year, knowing our Lord is right here with us, and that He asks us each to be a witness of hope to others.”

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