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Pilgrims of HopeJUBILEE YEAR 2025 -
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What is a Jubilee?
A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on the spiritual life. In the Hebrew tradition, as recorded in Leviticus, a Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years with the freeing of slaves and the forgiveness of debts. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first Christian Jubilee, and since then the Church has designated each new Jubilee as a special year of grace and forgiveness, offering the faithful an opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence.
As boldly stated in the opening words of Pope Francis' Bull of Indiction, “Spes non confundit. Hope does not disappoint,” hope is the unifying theme of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025. The Jubilee Year began with the traditional opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on December 24, 2024 by Pope Francis and continues until the closing of the Holy Door on January 6, 2026, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
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Jubilee Sites in the Diocese of Jackson
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For those who cannot travel to Rome, there are ten pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee Year for Catholics in and visiting the Diocese of Jackson as special places of prayer for local pilgrims, offering Holy Year opportunities for reconciliation, indulgences and other events intended to strengthen and revive faith.
Jubilee Plenary Indulgence
Pope Francis has announced an indulgence is available to the faithful during the jubilee year. The indulgence, he explained, would be “a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy.” A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.
The conditions necessary for a Jubilee indulgence include:- Being in a state of grace and disposed to receive the indulgence
- Having confessed one's sins sacramentally
- Receiving Holy Communion
- Offering prayers for the Holy Father and his intentions
- If able, make a pilgrimage to a designated Jubilee pilgrimage site (including those listed below within the Diocese of Jackson)
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As Special jubilee masses are scheduled they will be posted below in their respective churches
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203 N West Street - Jackson, MS 39201
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle
Website - Phone (601) 969-3125
Rector: Father Nick Adam
The cathedral is the mother church of any diocese. It is the church where the bishop’s chair, or cathedra, sits. Diocesan liturgies are celebrated here, including ordinations of bishops and priests, the annual Chrism Mass, the Bishop Chanche Medal for service, World Marriage Day and more. While the cathedral is the bishop’s home church, it has a rector who acts as pastor to the local congregation.
Mass Times
Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday 3-5 p.m. (Vigil Mass is at 4 p.m.)
Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Masses at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.)
(To enter the Church you will have to use the side door inside the parking gate. To enter into the parking gate, you need to dial '411' on the keypad and let the receptionist know that you are seeking to visit the Church)
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105 S Union Street - Natchez, MS 39120
BASILICA OF ST. MARY
Website - Phone (601) 445-5616
Pastor: Father Aaron Williams
St. Mary's Basilica in Natchez is recognized as an architectural masterpiece among Catholic churches in the south. The construction of this place of worship was begun in 1842 as a Cathedral of Our Lady Sorrows — a status she maintained until the Diocese headquarters was transferred from Natchez to Jackson in 1977. Click here to read more history about the Basilica of St. Mary in Natchez
Mass times
Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Monday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday 12-4 p.m.
Wednesday - Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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2601 Davis Street - Meridian, MS 39301
St. patrick Meridian
Website - Phone (601) 693-1321
Pastor: Father Augustine Palimattam
Parochial Vicar: Father Carlisle Beggerly
The first St. Patrick Church building was dedicated in 1868. St. Patrick School has been ministering to students of all faiths since 1873.
Mass TimesJubilee Celebration Mass with Bishop Joseph Kopacz - Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m. Open for Visitors/PilgrimagesMonday - Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday 5 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
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2511 West Washington Street - Greenwood, MS 38935
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY GREENWOOD
Website - Phone (662) 453-3980
Pastor: Father Andrew Nguyen
Much has changed at Immaculate Heart of Mary since the pioneering days back when priests traveled by horseback, yet the spirit and dedication of the Catholic community to its faith and service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what continues to drive parishioners of IHM forward and outward in the heart of the Delta.
Mass Times
Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Office closed for lunch 12-1 p.m.)
Sunday 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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412 Main Street - Greenville, MS 38701
St. Joseph GREENVILLE
Website - Phone (662) 453-3980
Pastor: Father José de Jesús Sánchez
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Greenville, MS, was completed in 1908 under the leadership of Canon Paul Korstenbroek, a Dutch nobleman and architect who used his inheritance to design and build the church in a traditional Dutch Gothic style. Many original elements—such as the pews, hand-carved European altars, and stained glass windows by the Emil Frei company—are still in use today. The rose window from the earlier 1874 church was preserved, and a marble relief gifted by William Alexander Percy honors his mother. Over time, Vatican II prompted changes to the altar and Stations of the Cross, with major renovations occurring in the 1980s and again in 2007–2008, funded by the Reilly estate.A significant restoration followed a generous bequest from Salvadore Sarullo, enabling a full replacement of the leaking slate roof and comprehensive updates to the church’s interior and exterior. These included new flooring, lighting, sound systems, brickwork repair, altar extensions, and the addition of a cry room. The church stands today as a well-preserved testament to its rich heritage and the dedication of its parish community.
Mass Times
Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Monday -Thursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Adoration every Tuesday from 12:30-6 p.m.
(Visitors should check in with the office. Closed on Fridays.)
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130 Florence Avenue - Clarksdale, MS 38614
St. ELIZABETH CLARKSDALE
Website - Phone (662) 624-4301
Pastor: Father Raju Macherla
St. Elizabeth Parish began back in 1891 with the assignment of the first pastor, Fr. L.A. Dutto. Over the course of the next several years, the parish grew to the point where they could afford to build a church. The first St. Elizabeth church, located on Fairland Place, was dedicated in July of 1913. It served as home for the parish until a new church was built in 1969 at its current location on Florence Avenue. Currently, St. Elizabeth is the spiritual home of over 300 families, as well as supporting a Pre-K through Grade 6 elementary school.Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Tuesday - Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday Mass at 12:10 p.m.
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305 East Van Dorn Avenue - Holly Springs, MS 38635
St. Joseph HOLLY SPRINGS
Phone (662) 985-3209
Pastoral Team: Father Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ; Father Guy Blair, SCJ, Father David Szatkowski, SCJ, Father Paul Phong Le Hoang, SCJ, Deacon Ted Schreck, Sister Rose Hacker, SSSF
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Holly Springs, Mississippi, has a rich history dating back to the mid-19th century. Originally constructed in 1841-42 as the first building for Christ Episcopal Church, the structure was sold to the Catholic community in 1857 due to the Episcopal congregation's need for a larger facility. The Catholic congregation relocated the building to its current site on College Avenue, where it was re-consecrated as St. Joseph's Church by Bishop William H. Elder in November 1857.
In 1878, Holly Springs was struck by a severe yellow fever epidemic. Father Anacletus Oberti, the parish priest, along with six Sisters of Charity from Bethlehem Academy, chose to stay and care for the afflicted. Tragically, Father Oberti and the six sisters succumbed to the disease. Their sacrifice is commemorated in the church, now known as the Church of the Yellow Fever Martyrs.The original church building served the Catholic community until 1981, when a new St. Joseph's Church was completed. The historic structure now functions as the Yellow Fever Martyrs Church and Museum, preserving the legacy of those who served during the epidemic.
Mass Times
Sunday 8 a.m.
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.
Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Fridays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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818 N Jackson Street - Houston, MS 38851
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY HOUSTON
Email: [email protected]
Lay Ecclesial Minister: Danna Johnson
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Houston, Mississippi, was dedicated on February 20, 1955. Its establishment was facilitated by the Benedictine Monks from Cullman, Alabama, with financial assistance from the Catholic Extension Society.
In 1965, the Glenmary Home Missioners, a Cincinnati-based order dedicated to serving rural America, began their ministry at the parish. Father Bob Dalton was a notable Glenmary priest who served a long tenure as the pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was the last of the Glenmarians to leave Mississippi in 2014, when the parish returned to the care of the Diocese of Jackson.
Several women have played pivotal roles in the development of Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister Nancy Schreck, a Dubuque Franciscan, was the first woman commissioned to lead a parish in the Jackson Diocese. Dominican Sisters Rosemary Empen and Pat Sullivan oversaw the construction of the parish hall, while Sheila Preszmicki and Sister Pat Hinton nurtured the growing Hispanic community. In 2022, Bishop Joseph Kopacz installed Danna Johnson as the Lay Ecclesial Minister.
The parish celebrated its 70th anniversary on February 27, 2025, with Bishop Kopacz leading the congregation in observance.
Mass Times
Sunday 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Spanish)
Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Every first Wednesday of the month 6 p.m. Healing Mass followed by adoration and rosary
Other Wednesdays of the month 6 p.m. Adoration and Holy Rosary
Every Friday during the Jubilee year: 6:30 p.m. Reparation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
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650 Highway 15 South - New Albany, MS 38652
St. Francis of Assisi NEW ALBANY
Website - Phone (662) 534-4654
Pastor: Father Xavier Jesuraj
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in New Albany, Mississippi, has a rich history spanning over 75 years. The parish began in the late 1940s when local Catholics, initially gathering in the home of the Kelso family, sought to establish a formal place of worship. Initially, St. Francis functioned as a mission of St. John's in Oxford. Over the years, the parish received support from various religious orders.
In October 1986, the congregation purchased land on Highway 15, where the current church stands today. The parish has grown into a vibrant, culturally diverse community. As of 2023, Father Jesuraj Xavier serves as the pastor. The community continues to celebrate its patron saint with annual outdoor Masses and festivities, reflecting the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
Open for Visitors/Pilgrimages
Wednesday 8-9 a.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m. (bilingual)
Saturday 8-9 a.m.
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205 Eastport Street - Iuka, MS 38852
St. Mary Iuka
Email: [email protected]
Pastor: Father Mario Solórzano
St. Mary Catholic Church has a history dating back to the 1860s. In 1861, Michael Ferro wrote to Bishop William Henry Elder requesting the establishment of a Catholic church in Iuka. However, the Civil War delayed these plans. It wasn't until 1870 that the first church building was constructed on land donated by the Ledyard family. This original structure was a simple wooden building that was destroyed by a storm in March of 1871.
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Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
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Official Jubilee Hymn
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