Throughout the Diocese of San Bernardino, banners written in Latin, Iubilaeum A.D. MMXXV Peregrinantes in Spem (Jubilee 2025 Pilgrims of Hope) have been posted at parishes and Catholic schools and by now, most of the diocesan faithful have seen them. Most by now have also probably heard, seen, or read about Jubilee 2025 “Pilgrims of Hope,” but why was this motto chosen for Jubilee 2025 and how can we be a Pilgrim of Hope?
Pope Francis said he chose the motto, “Pilgrims of Hope” because the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of churches, schools, and public spaces, causing grief, doubt, and fear. And in this Jubilee year we have the opportunity to nurture hope and help others gain strength by looking to the future positively.
Alfred Shine, Jr., a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes in Montclair, has joyfully taken Pope Francis’ intentions for Jubilee 2025 deeply to heart and put them into action.
“To a certain extent, I feel like I am making up for lost time during the period of COVID-19, in which we didn’t actually physically get to go places. So, I suppose by grabbing the bull by both horns and just going for it,” Shine said.
Shine has personally made a pilgrimage to 19 of the 28 designated Jubilee parish sites within the Diocese of San Bernardino. At the time of publication, Shine had made a pilgrimage to all the Jubilee parish sites within the West End, San Bernardino, and Riverside vicariates of the diocese, and at least one parish in each of other three vicariates.
Shine shared a moment of his own surprise to find out that he has already visited 19 parishes after speaking with Sister Mary Chilee Okoko, DMMM, Director of the Department of Life, Dignity and Justice, and Monsignor Gerard Lopez, STL, Vicar General, for a video interview.
During the interview, Shine shared that his motivation for visiting all of these parish pilgrimage sites issimple but has brought about a beautiful reawakening.
“One [motivation was] getting out and about. Two, I just love history and exploring and, of course, I feel closer to God. It’s brought me closer to that feeling that I had during childhood going through Catholic schools. It’s rekindled the Spirit inside of me,” Shine said.
Shine shared with Msgr. Lopez that he attended Catholic schools from first grade to 12th, living a Catholic life from an early age. But when the COVID-19 pandemic halted in-person Masses in the diocese for several months, Shine felt that impact a lot, while noting that feeling was shared by many people.
By partaking in the Universal Church and Pope Francis’ invitation to participate in Jubilee 2025 by making a pilgrimage to designated sites, praying, going to Confession, celebrating in liturgy and professing the faith, Shine has welcomed the “rekindled” spirit inside of him and plans to carry out out this reborn spirit and be a pilgrim of hope in his life even after the Jubilee year concludes.
“Simple things, like sharing your food that you’re bringing along with you,” he said, references different actions that have been inspired by his pilgrimages. “Yesterday, I gave half my food away to a homeless guy who needed it, and [he] was very appreciative of the food, of getting to share the food. Just feeling open about doing that as you go through it. In other words, walk with Jesus, be like Jesus,” Shine said.
After the video interview, Msgr. Lopez, on behalf of Bishop Alberto Rojas named Shine as the first winner of the Diocesan Jubilee Committee’s opportunity drawing and presented him with an official Jubilee 2025 water bottle.
At the beginning of the year, the diocese created an opportunity drawing for those parishioners who visit designated Jubilee sites within the diocese with five categories of prizes to win. To learn more about how to participate in this opportunity drawing, please visit sbdiocese.org/Jubilee2025. You too can win prizes and gain a rekindled spirit.
“You’ll feel a sense of happiness, and a sense of joy by doing that and rediscovering that portion of you,” Shine said, encouraging his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to participate in Jubilee 2025 by making a pilgrimage to one (or more) of the designated Jubilee parish sites in the diocese.