Making a Local Jubilee Pilgrimage in the Year of Hope

By Kathleen McCarty

COLORADO SPRINGS. During this Jubilee Year of Hope, (which runs until Jan. 6, 2026), the Church has designated particular churches in Rome and the Holy Land as sacred Jubilee sites. These Jubilee churches provide a place for pilgrims to gather in prayer — and provide an opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence. 
The theme of the Jubilee Year — “Pilgrims of Hope” — reflects the significance of pilgrimage in the life of every Christian. We are exiles on pilgrimage to our heavenly home. Amid the cares of life, making a pilgrimage can serve to refocus our gaze on what’s really important. The Holy Father, in his papal bull announcing the Jubilee Year, discusses why pilgrimage matters: “Pilgrimage is of course a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life” (“Spes Non Confundit,” 5).
While making a pilgrimage to Rome or the Holy Land would be a wonderful way to celebrate the Jubilee, the time and expense involved may not be feasible for everyone. To allow more people to participate in a pilgrimage this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis has asked all bishops to designate sacred Jubilee sites within their dioceses. This means that we have some great opportunities this year to make a local pilgrimage — no passport or plane tickets required! You can also receive a plenary indulgence by visiting these Jubilee churches. 
Within the Diocese of Colorado Springs, we have six Jubilee sites: 

• St. Mary’s Cathedral (22 W. Kiowa, Colorado Springs, 80903) Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday 3 - 5:30 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• Holy Family Parish (Two churches)
St. Joseph Church (426 W. 2nd St., Leadville, 80461) Hours: Monday - Sunday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Annunciation Church (609 Poplar St., Leadville, 80461) Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m-2 p.m., or by appointment.

• Sacred Heart Parish (105 West 5th St. N, Cheyenne Wells, 80810) Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• St. Dominic Parish (5354 S Hwy 85, Security, 80911)
   Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 3-6 p.m., Sundays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

• St. Francis of Assisi Parish (2746 Fifth St., Castle Rock, 80104) Hours: Weekdays, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays, 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.

• St. Peter Chapel (316 N 3rd St., Cripple Creek, 80813) Hours: First Sundays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diocesan Year of Hope website contains other helpful information for these churches, such as Mass and confession times. The link is listed at the bottom of this article.
How can we make the most of this amazing opportunity? Here are five ways to maximize your experience of pilgrimage:
1. Before your pilgrimage, consider what prayer intentions you’d like to bring with you. Write them down on a piece of paper or on your phone to pray with.
2. Plan some quiet prayer time during your pilgrimage. Carving out some time for silent prayer or Scriptural meditation is a way to make your pilgrimage even more prayerful and fruitful.
3. If there is a particular patron for the church you’ll be visiting, learn more about that saint and ask for his or her intercession during your visit.
4. Consider structuring your prayer around the virtue of hope. Bishop Golka’s pastoral letter, “Christ Our Hope,” (available on the diocesan Year of Hope website) provides an excellent point of reference. 
5. Learn about the Jubilee indulgence. Visiting a Jubilee church provides a fabulous opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence for yourself or a soul in purgatory — each day of this Jubilee Year! The diocesan Year of Hope website contains more detailed information about how to obtain the indulgence. 

As we, Pilgrims of Hope, journey towards to meeting Christ in glory, let’s take every advantage of the graces being offered to us this Jubilee Year!

Resources:
Diocesan Year of Hope Webpage: https://www.diocs.org/About/Year-of-Hope 
Vatican Jubilee Webpage: https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
(Kathleen McCarty is executive assistant to the Chief of Staff for the Diocese of Colorado Springs)