(OSV News) — On December 24, Pope Francis ushered in a gift to the Church that comes once every 25 years: a jubilee year, this year themed “Pilgrims of Hope.” Jubilee celebrations have been held regularly in the Catholic Church since 1300.

Though Rome and the Vatican have spent the past year logistically preparing for the influx of pilgrims they will receive in 2025 for the many scheduled Jubilee events — including the highly anticipated canonizations of Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati — the Jubilee Year can be celebrated by each of us no matter where we may be. And it should be! Jubilee years are opportunities for great graces for the church and individuals.

Here are four ways Catholics can and should participate.

Read the papal bull
Pope Francis has written a spiritually lovely document for the Holy Year, which encourages Catholics “to recognize the immense goodness present in our world, lest we be tempted to think ourselves overwhelmed by evil and violence. The signs of the times, which include the yearning of human hearts in need of God’s saving presence, ought to become signs of hope.” These signs of hope include a desire for peace, an openness to life, and special attention to prisoners and the sick, migrants, young people, the elderly and the poor. It is a document that summons all Christians right to the heart of Jesus Christ’s Gospel, and one that can inspire each of us to live in an intentionally hopeful manner as Jesus’ missionary disciples.

Participate in the Opening Mass
Pope Francis will open the Jubilee Year on Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Basilica — including the opening of the first of the five holy doors designated for the Jubilee Year. (The others will be at the other three major basilicas in Rome, as well as a nearby prison.) But the pope has asked that diocesan celebrations take place on the feast of the Holy Family, which is celebrated on December 29 this year. On that date, dioceses around the world will join in the opening celebrations of the Jubilee Year, which are to include pilgrimages and proclamations from the official papal bull. If possible, make it a point to participate in this opening Mass as the local church joins in the universal celebration.

Seek out an indulgence
Indulgences — a remission of the temporal punishment a person must endure for his or her sins — have long been a part of jubilee celebrations. The Vatican has outlined clear rules for how Catholics can gain indulgences on its website, and the most typical of these include the following sequence: visiting a pilgrimage site, going to confession, receiving holy Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father. But there are also plenty of other acts that can lead to an indulgence, including carrying out an act of charity or participating in a work of mercy.

Make a pilgrimage
Pilgrimages are a traditional part of jubilee years. Every Catholic ideally should visit his local cathedral — or other locally designated Jubilee pilgrimage site — at some point during the year. Though there are not holy doors in every diocese for this Jubilee as there were during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015-16, a local pilgrimage offers a fitting opportunity for prayer and reflection. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington has also been designated as a special place of pilgrimage for the year by the U.S. bishops, so if you find yourself in the nation’s capital, be sure to stop by. Finally, many tours to Rome and the Vatican are available for 2025, should circumstances permit. Despite the crowds, there is no better time to visit the Eternal City than during a jubilee year.

As we enter into this Jubilee Year, make a point not to let it pass you by. As Pope Francis writes, “For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus.”

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The members of the OSV Editorial Board include Father Patrick Briscoe, OP; Gretchen R. Crowe; Paulina Guzik; Matthew Kirby; Peter Jesserer Smith and Scott P. Richert.