WATERTOWN — On September 10, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison celebrated the first of six special Masses honoring the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

These Masses, which take place at the six pilgrimage sites around the diocese, are scheduled throughout September and October.

The September 10 Mass was held at St. Bernard Church in Watertown, part of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish.

A day later, Bishop Hying celebrated a Jubilee Mass at Nativity of Mary Church in Janesville, part of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish.

On September 16 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona, part of Stella Maris Parish, the bishop celebrated the last Jubilee Mass scheduled in September. The remaining three Jubilee Masses, at St. Mary Church in Fennimore, the Schoenstatt Shrine in Madison, and St. Cecilia Church in Wisconsin Dells, are scheduled for next month.

The Jubilee Year of Hope

At the Mass in Watertown, Bishop Hying recognized the Jewish roots of Catholic Jubilee celebrations.

In ancient Jewish custom, a Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years, and “it was a year to forgive debts, it was a year that the hungry would be fed, it was a special year to seek out the mercy and a pardon from God,” Bishop Hying began. “It was a time to reconcile with enemies and for people estranged from their land, their homes, to come home,” he continued.

Referencing the Gospel of Luke, in chapter four, when Jesus read aloud Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy in the synagogue at Nazareth, Bishop Hying proclaimed, “Jesus is our Jubilee.”

The bishop explained that when Jesus read Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus was reading “the job description of the Messiah,” which is to “proclaim good news to the poor, liberate captives from their oppression, give healing and sight to the blind, and proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

“Jesus is the fulfillment of all of Judaism’s expectations, so Jesus is our Jubilee,” the bishop said. By way of His death and Resurrection, “Jesus is the door through which God pours His mercy upon the world.”

The Jubilee indulgence

“Beginning in the year 1300, Pope Boniface VIII embraced that Jewish practice of Jubilee for our Church, [and now,] every 25 years, we have a special Jubilee year,” said Bishop Hying.

This Jubilee year, this intentional time of hope, mercy, and forgiveness, should not be wasted.

Everyone is invited to partake in gaining the special Jubilee indulgence available through December 28, 2025, when the Jubilee Year of Hope closes in the Diocese of Madison.

Within the diocese, there are four ways to gain this indulgence for yourself or someone who has died.

Those include: Making a pilgrimage to one of the six diocesan pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Madison, making a pious visit to one of the same six sites, making a spiritual pilgrimage, and partaking in a Work of Mercy or penance.

Attending one of the three remaining Jubilee Masses celebrated by Bishop Hying is one of several options that falls within the pilgrimage category.

In addition to attending one of the Masses, the four usual indulgence conditions still apply. Those include: Detachment from all sin, including venial; receiving Holy Communion within 20 days; going to Confession within 20 days; and praying for the intentions of Pope Leo XIV.

Through the mercy of God, partial indulgences may be gained when one or more conditions aren’t fulfilled.

Make a plan for October

The remaining three special Jubilee Masses in the diocese offer a unique opportunity to participate in the life of the Church. Make a plan to attend any of the three remaining Masses.

The first in October is scheduled on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 930 Jefferson St., Fennimore, part of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish.

The second is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Schoenstatt Shrine, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison.

The last chance for a Jubilee Mass with Bishop Hying is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at St. Cecilia Church, 603 Oak St., Wisconsin Dells, part of St. John Paul II Pastorate.

“May this Jubilee year be one of hope, of a growth in love and faith for all of the faithful throughout our diocese,” said Bishop Hying.