Archdiocese of Caceres Closes Local Celebration of Jubilee of Hope on Feast of the Holy Family

By Jonnah Abellano

The spiritual odyssey of the "Jubilee of Hope" reached its formal conclusion in the Archdiocese of Caceres on December 28, 2025. The solemn Rite of Closing, which coincided with the Feast of the Holy Family, was presided over by Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, D.D., the Archbishop of Caceres.

Throughout the Jubilee Year, pilgrims visited the cathedral and other approved pilgrimage sites to seek plenary indulgences, deepen their prayer life, and renew their commitment to Christian discipleship. The local observance echoed the universal Church’s call to embrace hope, mercy, and reconciliation amid the challenges of the times.

In his homily, Archbishop Alarcon reminded the faithful that while the physical doors of the Jubilee  celebrations were closing, the spiritual mission of mercy and hope must remain active in everyday life. He stressed that the graces of the Jubilee are meant to be lived out continually within families and communities.

“The door through which grace and indulgence pass is symbolic,” the prelate said. “It represents mercy, forgiveness, and welcome. The closing of the Jubilee Year reminds us that its graces are meant to endure and to flow into the years ahead, and that we may be kind, merciful, and loving toward our brothers and sisters.”

He emphasized that the spiritual fruits received during the Jubilee are meant to be lived out, not merely remembered, “The grace we received as pilgrims this year is not a souvenir to be kept, but a mission to be lived,” highlighting the Bicolano understanding of discipleship as an ongoing journey of faith, communion, and solidarity.

The closing ceremony in Caceres likewise served as a historical marker, as the Jubilee of Hope began under the late Pope Francis and concluded during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. Spanning two papacies, the Holy Year stood as a testament to continuity and renewal in the life of the Church.

As the Archdiocese of Caceres looks ahead, the faithful are encouraged to carry forward the Jubilee’s enduring message by embodying mercy, hope, and Christian love beyond this extraordinary year.