Jubilee Year 2025, St Oliver Plunkett 400

Pope Francis has proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee or Holy Year. First and foremost it marks the 2025th anniversary of the birth of Jesus. A Jubilee also proclaims a year of forgiveness and freedom for all. The motto of the 2025 Jubilee is Pilgrims of Hope inspired by the words of St Paul, “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). We are delighted that marking the 400th anniversary of the birth of St Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop Eamon Martin has named St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, as a Jubilee Church in the Archdiocese of Armagh, along with St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. The Archbishop has asked that the following note be published in parish bulletins throughout the Archdiocese this weekend regarding Indulgences during this Jubilee Year of Hope:

Indulgences in the Jubilee Year

“Now the time has come for a new Jubilee, when once more the Holy Door ill be flung open to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God” (Spes non confundit, 6). One of the great graces of the Jubilee Year lies in the opportunity it presents us for starting afresh, for conversion and restoration of our relationship with God. God is his mercy wants to forgive our sins. The Jubilee Year provides us with opportunities to be free from the
consequences of sin – past and present – which leaves a mark on our lives. The Jubilee indulgence is offered to remove the punishments due to our having sinned and wounded our relationship with God. It is a way for us to begin afresh and restore our communion with God. We can also obtain the indulgence on behalf of the souls in purgatory. The first step in obtaining the Jubilee indulgence is a desire for repentance and conversion. We undertake to detach our lives from sin – even venial sins. Secondly, as “pilgrims of hope” during this Holy Year, we undertake to receive devoutly the Sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion and to pray for the Pope’s intentions in one of the following ways:

1.By pilgrimage or visit to any sacred Jubilee site in Rome, the Holy Land; or to one of Ireland’s National Pilgrimages at Knock, Lough Derg or Croagh Patrick; or to a designated local Jubilee Church – St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, or
the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Colman, Newry; or to a similarly designated Jubilee
site in another diocese. In each case we participate in the organised pilgrimage exercises,
or make a “Jubilee visit”, consisting of engaging in Eucharistic adoration, meditation and
prayer, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith and invocations to Mary,
the mother of God. Note: Those who for reasons of sickness, age, vital work or other
reasons who cannot make such a pilgrimage visit, may obtain the Jubilee indulgence by
uniting from their homes and offering up their sufferings or hardships in spirit with the
faithful taking part in person.
2. By works of mercy and penance: visit someone in need or in difficulty (the sick, prisoners, lonely, elderly people, disabled people…); dedicate Friday to fasting or abstinence; support the defence and protection of life in all its phases; the cause of abandoned children, young people in difficulty, the needy or lonely elderly people, or
migrants; volunteer in the community; make a charitable donation for the poor; participate in popular missions, spiritual exercises, or formation activities on the documents of the Second Vatican Council a.nd the Catechism of the Catholic Church, held in a church or other suitable place

Prayer to St Oliver Plunkett
400th Anniversary of Birth, 1625 – 2025

Glorious Martyr St Oliver, who willingly gave your life for your faith, help us also to be strong in faith. May we be loyal like you to the See of Peter. By your intercession and example, may all hatred and bitterness be banished from the hearts of men and women. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, as it did in your heart, even at the moment of your death. Pray for us, for Ireland and the whole world. Amen.

St Oliver Plunkett, 1625 – 2025 – Founder of SchoolsA former teaching professor, St. Oliver believed that education of the young should be a priority in his apostolate as Archbishop of Armagh. Within three months of his arrival back in Ireland, and despite huge opposition, he founded a school in Drogheda. He also retrained priests in this college at Drogheda, as for many decade priests in Ireland had not had an opportunity of a proper priestly formation. Within three and a half years, the school was knocked to the ground by the secular authorities, causing him great sadness. Despite the school’s short duration, it achieved much, and left an enduring legacy among the youth. The college for priests also played a crucial and lasting role in educating and reforming the clergy of the time. St. Oliver Plunkett, pray for us.

St Oliver Plunkett Exhibition: Civic Offices, Fair St, Drogheda.

Monday to Friday, 9th June– 6th July, 2025, 10.00am – 4.00pm. St Oliver artefacts and memorabilia, some on public display for first time. Part of the St Oliver Plunkett 400 celebrations.