By Ononye VC
Faithful of Onitsha Episcopal Region which included members of the religious, Archdiocese of Onitsha,last Saturday embarked on pilgrimage at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity,Onitsha,to commence the Jubilee Year 2025 activities.
Activities of the Pilgrimage started with a Rosary Procession at the Basilica Square followed by a lecture inside the Basilica, on the reason, importance and significance of the Jubilee Year as declared by Pope Francis.
The lecture was delivered by Rev Fr Dan Onuorah.
After the lecture,a Holy Mass was celebrated inside the Basilica which was presided over by the Episcopal Vicar of Onitsha Region Rev Fr Victor Mbanisi who represented the Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke.The homily was delivered by Rev Fr Justin Ileka who after explaining the essence and significance of the Jubilee Year,commended the pilgrims for turning out in their numbers for the Pilgrimage.
Rector of the Basilica,Rev Fr JohnBosco Ezika delivered the vote of thanks and bade the pilgrims goodbye.It was followed by photographs to keep the memory of the Pilgrimage.
It would be recalled that
the 2025 Jubilee is a jubilee in the Catholic Church being celebrated in this year 2025. It was announced by Pope John Paul II at the end of the Great Jubilee.According to records,the jubilee was preceded by the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy of 2015–2016.The papal bull proclaiming the Jubilee is “Spes non confundit” ( “Hope does not disappoint”).
The official logo of the 2025 Jubilee features its motto, with the Latin meaning,Pilgrims of Hope.
The Jubilee began on Christmas Eve (24 December) 2024 and will continue until Epiphany (6 January) 2026.
Pilgrims from other Episcopal Regions of the Archdiocese of Onitsha are expected to take their turns at the Basilica in the coming days.
