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Archdiocese of Pretoria joyfully closes the Jubilee of Hope 2025

Archdiocese of Pretoria joyfully closes the Jubilee of Hope 2025

By Fr Mathibela Sebothoma

The Archdiocese of Pretoria marked the solemn and joyful closure of the Jubilee of Hope 2025 on Sunday, 28 December 2025, with a celebratory Mass at the Catholic Church of the Beatitude in Zwavelpoort, east of the capital city. The church, which accommodates more than 1 000 people, was filled to capacity as clergy, religious and lay faithful gathered in large numbers for this historic moment in the life of the local Church.

The atmosphere was vibrant and deeply symbolic of unity in diversity. Members proudly wore colourful Jubilee T-shirts representing the various deaneries of the archdiocese, transforming the liturgical celebration into a visible expression of communion. The closing celebration coincided with the festive Christmas season in South Africa, further enhancing the spirit of joy, gratitude and hope.

The Jubilee of Hope was proclaimed by Pope Francis in December 2024 and celebrated throughout 2025 by Catholics across the world as a year of renewal, reconciliation and spiritual growth. In the Archdiocese of Pretoria, the Jubilee was officially launched at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart by Archbishop Dabula Mpako. Over the year, it permeated parish life, movements, sodalities, associations and deanery structures, becoming a lived experience rather than a once-off event.

The closing Mass was presided over by Archbishop Dabula Mpako. In the homily, Bishop Masilo Selemela reflected on the deeper meaning and enduring call of the Jubilee of Hope. He recalled the powerful image of Pope Francis opening the Holy Door at the beginning of the Jubilee, describing it as a sign of God’s mercy, invitation and nearness.

Drawing from the Book of Ezekiel and the Gospel of John, Bishop Selemela reminded the faithful that Christ Himself is the true door. While Holy Doors are ceremonially closed at the end of a Jubilee year, he emphasised that the heart of Jesus never closes. It remains forever open, dispensing love, mercy and forgiveness to all who seek Him.

Reflecting on the Letter to the Romans, Bishop Selemela spoke of the triumph of hope and the assurance that God never abandons His people. Even when doors seem closed in life, the door of God’s mercy remains open. Peace with God, he said, is not earned through human effort but is a gift made possible through the body and blood of Christ. In a world marked by division, violence and uncertainty, this peace is a firm foundation on which believers can stand.

Turning to the prophetic message of Isaiah and the mission of Christ in the Gospel, the bishop reminded the faithful that authentic hope must be lived and shared. Liberation, he noted, is inseparable from justice, compassion and solidarity with the poor, the hungry, the homeless and the marginalised. The Jubilee experience, he said, now sends the Church out on mission—to be a beacon of hope, a voice for the voiceless and a light in the darkness through concrete acts of love and mercy.

“The Jubilee Year is not an event to be archived,” Bishop Selemela emphasised, “but an invitation to remain attentive to the Son.” He encouraged the faithful to translate the graces of the Jubilee into renewed prayer, reconciliation in families, creative commitment in work, care for the poor and a merciful presence in society. Only in this way, he said, can the Church truly be “a Church with the Gospel in our hands and our brothers and sisters in our hearts.”

At the conclusion of the Mass, Archbishop Dabula Mpako expressed his sincere gratitude to the outgoing members of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council for their dedicated service over the past three years. Each member received a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their commitment to the pastoral life and mission of the archdiocese.

Those honoured were:

  • Fr. Fransiskus Swartbooi – Priests Council Chairperson

  • Deacon Callum Scott – Deacons Council Chairperson

  • Sr. Christine Jacobs – Religious Women Representative

  • Reginald Masemola – Sacred Heart Diocesan President

  • Makola Sema – CWA Diocesan President

  • Stanley Kekana – CMA Diocesan President

  • Paul Rapopo – Kemolo Diocesan President

  • Tebogo Petja – St. Anne Diocesan President

  • Pinky Dlamini – DOSA Diocesan President

  • Thabang Diketana – YACO Diocesan President

  • Gregory Phochana – Southern Deanery Chairperson

  • Philani Masikane – Southern Deanery Treasurer

  • Stephens Makwela – Northern Deanery Secretary

  • Grace Tseke – Northern Deanery Treasurer

  • Bontsi Motau – North Western Deanery Chairperson

  • Solly Masemola – North Western Deanery Treasurer

  • Laurika Nxumalo – North Western Deanery Secretary & APC Secretary

  • Raisebe Mphela – Western Deanery Secretary

  • Derek Kunaka – Eastern Deanery Secretary

  • Peter Maboya – North Eastern Deanery Secretary

  • Gladness Mashubuka – Diocesan Youth Commission Chairperson

  • Lawrence Matemba – Eastern Deanery Treasurer

  • Nicolas Sithole – Southern Deanery Secretary & APC Deputy Secretary

  • Tebogo Maomela – Eastern Deanery Chairperson & APC Chairperson

  • Medupi Mathibedi – Western Deanery Chairperson & APC Deputy Chairperson

  • Reginald Motsepe – Western Deanery Treasurer & APC Treasurer

  • Joseph Vilankulu – Northern Deanery Chairperson

  • Sizakele Ntuli – North Eastern Deanery Chairperson

  • Lucas Moswana – St. Joseph Diocesan President

  • Nkuli Shinga – CWL Diocesan President

As the Jubilee of Hope formally concluded in the Archdiocese of Pretoria, the celebration served not as an ending but as a sending forth. Strengthened by the Eucharist and renewed by a year of grace, the faithful were reminded that hope continues wherever hearts remain open to Christ and lives are shaped by love, justice and mercy.