“Hope sustains us, and is itself sustained by love,” Cardinal William Goh proclaimed as he launched the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope for the Archdiocese of Singapore.
In his homily during the opening Mass on Dec. 28 at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, the prelate highlighted the transformative power of hope rooted in faith and love, urging the faithful to embrace these virtues during the year-long celebration.
“It is because of love that we still hope for the best when we are going through trials and difficulties – staying faithful to our spouses and supporting our children even when they are rebellious,” Cardinal Goh said, as reported by Catholic News SG, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Singapore.
He pointed to the family as the foundation of love and hope, saying, “The home is the school of love. In a family, we learn how to take and give, and accept each other’s weaknesses; tolerate and care for one another.”
The Cardinal linked the Jubilee Year’s theme of hope to faith in eternal life. “Our ultimate happiness is found when we share in the life of God, here and in the life to come. Jesus has shown us the way – he suffered, died, and rose to life. We have hope because there is life after death,” he said.
The opening Mass, attended by over 650 faithful, marked the start of Singapore’s observance of the Jubilee Year, which the Catholic Church celebrates every 25 years.
Pilgrims gathered inside the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and in a large outdoor tent to witness the symbolic and solemn rites.
Instead of the traditional Holy Door, the Archdiocese unveiled a Jubilee shrine in the cathedral’s south transept, featuring the historic Jubilee Crucifix of Hope.
Originally used on an altar by French Catholic missionaries, the crucifix symbolizes the redemptive sacrifice of Christ and serves as a call for pilgrims to emulate the missionaries’ acts of mercy and faith.
Fr. Ignatius Yeo, Liturgical Master of Ceremonies, explained the significance of the crucifix during an interview with CatholicSG Radio.
“The crucifix underscores the redemptive sacrifice of Christ as the ultimate source of hope for all believers and invites the faithful to embrace the cross as a sign of salvation, unity, and hope,” he said.
