Jubilee 2025

The goal of the Jubilee Year 2025 is to offer pilgrims opportunities for reconciliation, indulgences, prayer, and reception of the sacraments.

What is the Jubilee?
“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year; the name comes from the instrument used to mark its launch. In this case, the instrument in question is the yobel, the ram's horn, used to proclaim the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This (Jewish) holiday occurs every year, but it takes on special significance when it marks the beginning of a Jubilee year. We can find an early indication of it in the Bible: a Jubilee year was to be marked every 50 years, since this would be an “extra” year, one which would happen every seven weeks of seven years, i.e., every 49 years (cf. Leviticus 25:8-13). Even though it wasn’t easy to organize, it was intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.

Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ mission in this way: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus lives out these words in his daily life, in his encounters with others and in his relationships, all of which bring about liberation and conversion.

In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee, also known as a
“Holy Year,” since it is a time in which God's holiness transforms us. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over time: at first, they were celebrated every 100 years; later, in 1343 Pope Clement VI reduced the gap between Jubilees to every 50 years, and in 1470 Pope Paul II made it every 25 years. There have also been “extraordinary” Holy Years: for example, in 1933 Pope Pius XI chose to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the Redemption, and in 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy as an extraordinary jubilee. The way in which Jubilee Years are marked has also changed through the centuries: originally the Holy Year consisted of a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, later other signs were added, such as the Holy Door. By participating in the Holy Year, one is granted a plenary indulgence.

Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 

For the Jubilee, St. Augustine Church will be open during weekdays from about 7am to 4pm...and upon request. For holidays, call our office at 402-878-2402.
 
Confessions are available Sunday mornings at 10:30am or by request. We are glad to offer Confessions for groups too!

Mass times: Monday through Friday at 6:30am when school is in session, 7:30am when school is out of session. During the school year, the Wednesday morning Mass moves to 9am and includes our school students. Weekend Mass is on Sunday at 11am.

We would like any group coming to visit to call ahead so we can have someone greet them, give them a tour if desired, and make sure the church is open. We look forward to hosting any size groups.
 
Contact information for pre-arranged visits:
Beck Meyer
[email protected] 
Office: 402-878-2402
Cell: 712-490-5406

Notable features:
In the church: A St. Kateri Tekakwitha statue welcomes you as you drive up to the church. Native American symbols and images of St. Katharine Drexel (who founded our school and visited annually), St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and Our Lady of Fatima adorn the church.

Just south of the church: The new school building of the St. Augustine Indian Mission. We are glad to make this part of your visit as well.

In the area:

12 Clans Statue Garden

Across Highway 77 is a statue garden representing the 12 clans of the Winnebago Tribe and their roles.

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center

More Information about the Picotte Center Can Be Found Here:
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center
503 Matthewson Street
Walthill, Nebraska 68007

Trinity Heights
25 miles north of Winnebago is Trinity Heights. Trinity Heights in Sioux City, Iowa offers more than two dozen shrines, memorial garden spots and quiet corners for prayer and reflection amidst 16 acres of spacious walkways and soft green spaces. The statues of many saints as well as a life-sized carving of the Last Supper make it worth any Catholic's time. Open 9am to 9pm daily.

More Information About Trinity Heights Can Be Found Here:
Trinity Heights
2511 33rd St
Sioux City, IA 51108