The Jubilee Mass
The Jubilee Mass on January 29, 2025, at St. Gregory the Great
The last time St. Gregory the Great church in Oshawa was this full was about 10 years ago. On January 29, 2025, Bishop Vincent Nguyen of the Eastern Pastoral Region celebrated the Jubilee Mass at St Gregory’s, the Jubilee site Parish in the Durham Region. That was an evening of prayerful rejoicing as we had 8 priests hearing confessions from 5:15 pm. Thank you, Fathers, for your selfless service! Besides the Bishop, there were about 15 diocesan and religious priests. We also had two permanent deacons, one francophone from the Assomption Parroise, Deacon Cirille Nyeck, and our permanent Deacon David MacInnis. There was a Bishop, priests, and deacons amongst the lay Catholics. All of us were making present the mystical body of Christ, which is the Catholic Church. It was amazing to see that some priests came as far as Scarborough. Not everyone came by car; Fr. Marcin of St. Hedwig led 15 Parishioners on a walking pilgrimage from St. Hedwig in Oshawa. That was practical and helpful since there were no spots left in our parking, which caused an overflow onto our neighbouring streets. At the same time, we had snow, perhaps a sign of blessing, that was falling seemingly only in the vicinity of Oshawa.
Back in the church, Bishop Vincent celebrated the Mass with the People of God who gathered from Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Holy Cross Parish and other Parishes in Oshawa, as far north as Beaverton, and elsewhere. These Parishioners represented small and big Parishes. The whole Church in Durham was present and gathered in St. Gregory’s that evening. Gerard Winn, the Director of Education for the DCDSB and other members of our Catholic schools were in attendance. Different groups attended: the Knights served as guards, and the Federation of North American Explorers, Catholic scouts were seated in the first three pews. RCIA members were at Mass. Paul Coates led us in song. Sacristan Paul made sure that everything was ready for the Mass. Altar servers were attentive in their service. Our reader, Lavinia, proclaimed the word of God to us. Videographers memorialized this historic Mass for us (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qg6QQvXWrM). Ushers guided Parishioners and guests to any available spot in the pews of both, the nave and the choir loft. People came early and waited patiently to have their confessions heard.
We had a priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Msgr. Bohdan Bilinsky, and members of the Syro-Malabar Rite among us in Communion with the members of the Latin Rite.
This was also an ecumenical event. Rev. Dr. Alvardo Adderley of St. George’s Anglican church in Oshawa was present in the congregation. It is notable that just several days after the Jubilee Mass, we gathered at St George’s. There, we celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
Bishop Vincent spoke to us in his homily about the history and practical significance of the holy Jubilee year. He reminded us that the jubilee years are every 25 years (the next one will be in 2050). The Jubilee year is significant since it allows us in a special way to ‘encounter Jesus our Saviour in sacred spaces and in our brothers and sisters.’ We may have ‘an intense experience of the love of God.’ Bishop Nguyen invited us to ‘obtain a plenary indulgence by going on pilgrimages and to receive graces by doing acts of mercy.’
People did come as pilgrims. They came to encounter the Lord Jesus and receive a plenary indulgence. There are many ways to obtain an indulgence for oneself or a soul in Purgatory. Pope Francis, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who is rich in mercy, has increased ways to receive a plenary indulgence. A big or small sinner seeking repentance may find it very easy to find forgiveness and obtain removal of the temporal punishments. These consequences of our sins would otherwise have to be expiated during this lifetime or in Purgatory. The main attraction of this Jubilee is that anyone may receive a plenary indulgence when fulfilling these conditions. Firstly, one needs to confess a week within pilgrimage to St. Gregory’s. Next, one has to visit a pilgrimage site, be detached from any mortal or venial sin, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the Pope’s intention. In simple terms, plenary indulgence is the removal of temporal punishments due to sins that have been forgiven, ordinarily in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that is, Confession. Thus, we may confess our sins, but in justice, we have to repair what we can, in a way, to pay the debt. Plenary indulgence is not so much us paying the debt. It is the Church, through the merits of saints in Heaven and on Earth, that satisfies divine justice. Plenary indulgences are the Church’s spiritual wealth of prayers, sacrifices, penances, and crosses that Her children have gathered and that She shares generously. We may take and give those spiritual gifts to ourselves or the souls in Purgatory. We may receive a plenary indulgence.
Our next plenary indulgence may help the holy souls in Purgatory. It may free them from temporal punishments. So, when they receive our plenary indulgence, they may enter Heaven. In Heaven, they will intercede for us with the Father. Seeing God face to face, they want and can help us. They wish to invoke God’s blessings on us, our families, and our world.
Following the Mass, people gathered in the hall and enjoyed snacks, coffee and tea, exchanging greetings and smiles. Since the Covid pandemic has ended, people are still encountering some friends whom they have not seen for a long time. Thank you to St. Gregory’s Catholic Women’s League and Knights of Columbus for preparing everything. Without them, the fellowship in the hall would not have been possible.
Finally, I want to say, ‘Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving us the grace of having this Jubilee Year at St. Gregory’s.’ Thank you also to Cardinal Francis Leo for choosing our Parish to be a Jubilee site, and Fr. Tim Hanley who is heading the Jubilee Committee.
In conclusion, we rejoiced at the Jubilee Mass that we encountered the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, we had an opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence, see each other, share the joy of the Lord, and have a small conversation in the Hall. God was perfectly manifest in the imperfection of our human reality. He was there, with us. This gives us, the pilgrims of hope, an assurance that as we visit this and other pilgrim sites this Jubilee year, we will meet the Lord, and if spiritually ready, we will receive His graces. There are many other ways to receive a plenary indulgence, such as by visiting the homebound or praying at the church. May this Jubilee Mass and year be an incentive that will set us on a pilgrimage of faith, hope, and love, of life and encourage us to seek the Lord and salvation of all more intensely. See the church bulletin, go to our website, or call the Parish to visit and obtain a plenary indulgence. You are very welcome here! To learn more about the indulgences, visit (https://bit.ly/jubileeto25). May the blessings you receive be a source of joy and gratitude for you and those who today are in need.
