By Bethany Friery, Jubilee Schools Lead, CAFOD
It doesn’t seem that long ago when, back in January, we celebrated the Jubilee Year Launch Day for schools and colleges. A flurry of activity saw pupils and teachers across the nations come together to mark the start of this landmark moment in the Catholic church.
Inviting us to stand in solidarity with people around the world suffering from poverty, injustice and conflict, Pope Francis called on us in this Jubilee year to be Pilgrims of Hope; to build abetter world for everyone, experiencing the joy which comes from taking action together. As we remember Pope Francis and give thanks for his life, we continue to be inspired by his invitation to renew our hope, a hope which comes from knowing God loves each one of us.
Since January we have seen schools celebrate with many different activities: creating jubilee icons and proudly displaying banners, classroom talks and cross-town pilgrimage walks, painting windows and dressing in Jubilee colours. And now it’s time to take the next steps on the journey!
“We're delighted with how schools have responded to Pope Francis’ call to journey together with hope in this Jubilee Year,” says CAFOD’s Head of Education, Monica Conmee. “The creativity and enthusiasm have been inspiring – and we look forward to seeing more of it this summer!”
In June or July, all Catholic schools are invited to make a Jubilee Pledge to live out Catholic Social Teaching; to commit to a ‘sign of hope’ and stand in solidarity with communities experiencing poverty, advancing justice and harmony locally, nationally, and globally. Our new pope, Leo XIV, carries on Pope Francis’ work and invites us to build a Church that “seeks peace, seeks charity and wants to be as close as possible to people who suffer”. A better world needs all of us, and the Jubilee Pledge will be a whole school, long-term commitment to take concrete actions to build a fairer world, just as Pope Francis asked us, and Pope Leo calls us, to do.
The Jubilee Pledge:
We are pilgrims of hope.
We walk in solidarity with our sisters and brothers worldwide, sharing challenges and celebrating joys.
We promise to be agents of change, working together for justice, love and peace, locally and globally.
We want to build a fairer world, where every person, and the earth, can flourish.
CAFOD, the Catholic Education Service, Catholic Social Action Network and the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation have come together to support schools and colleges with a huge range of creative resources for Pledge Day, including animations, posters, CPD, activities and ideas. Schools will be able to plot themselves on the Schools Pledge Map to witness and celebrate their commitment. They will then receive their Pledge Certificate.
Share your commitment using #Jubileepledge
As the map of pledges grows throughout June and July, it will be a sure sign of hope and a sign that the renewal of the Jubilee is well underway!
