MORRISONVILLE — The Rev. Chris Looby, who pastors Roman Catholic churches in Morrisonville, Cadyville and Peru, will lead a pilgrimage to Rome in the fall.
“Pope Francis has designated that this year 2025 is a jubilee year. This year, we are focusing on the theological virtue of hope. It is customary during a jubilee year to make a pilgrimage. So, I decided to organize a trip to Italy, specifically Rome and the City of Assisi to see the holy sites in Rome, especially Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, where the holy doors will be open. Pilgrims will have the opportunity to walk through the holy doors at St. Peter’s Basilica, which are only opened every 25 years. So, this is a very special time,” he said.
Every 25 years, a jubilee year is celebrated and the holy doors are opened at St. Peter’s Basilica.
“As Catholics, we believe we receive an indulgence when we walk through the holy doors at St. Peter’s Basilica and also any pilgrimage site. There have been pilgrimage sites designated throughout the world during this Jubilee year including right in this area. Mother Cabrini Shrine in Peru has been designated as a pilgrimage site, so people in our area can visit the shrine there in Peru and pray there and receive the indulgence that’s been allowed for this jubilee year,” he said.
Throughout history, there have been misconceptions about indulgences.
“Basically, an indulgence is a grace granted by the Church that removes all the temporal punishment due to sin. Obviously, sin is forgiven in Confession or just when we pray to God to ask for forgiveness, but indulgences address the lingering effects of sin. This isn’t just for jubilee years. The Church often designates special indulgences during such times as seen here with the Jubilee Year of Hope,” he said.
Looby’s pilgrimage tour to Rome, Oct. 15-23, sold out within three months. Thirty pilgrims, ranging in age from 20s to 80s, will be flying out of Burlington, Vt.
“To take advantage of this Jubilee Year of Hope, going to Rome and walking through the holy doors and receive the indulgence, focusing on hope itself and what hope means in our lives today as Christians, and just to have an opportunity to travel with other Christians and meeting new friends and praying with other Christians during this year of hope,” he said.
Nine years ago, Looby took a similar pilgrimage visiting holy sites in Italy at churches and basilicas.
“Not just the Vatican, but the churches associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and all the major shrines of Italy. During that time, I had a chance to meet Pope Francis personally as well. I attended one of his Masses in his private chapel, and I got to meet him right after Mass.”