Locals and visitors to the San Antonio area have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the 2025 Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope” with local apostolate Pilgrim Center of Hope, which has been guiding people to encounters with Christ since 1993 through unique events, media series, and pilgrimage journeys.
Pick Up Your Spiritual Passport
Individuals and families can ‘take a photo with Pope Francis’ as they pick up a free spiritual passport booklet for the Jubilee Year at Pilgrim Center of Hope containing activities to promote their spiritual journey. After each activity is completed, the passport can be stamped with a ‘visa’. Those who complete all activities will receive a special “Pilgrims of Hope” gift while supplies last.
Visitors to Pilgrim Center of Hope will discover this peaceful, 6.8 acre former convent as a beloved, spiritual getaway in northwest San Antonio.
Special Jubilee Events
Special events during the Jubilee include veneration of St. Anthony de Padua’s first-class relic on Saturday, June 28, 2025 (10am-1pm), and Celebrate the Saints! on Friday, October 31 & Saturday, November 1, 2025, featuring opportunities to venerate relics of prominent saints, learn about their inspiring lives, and receive spiritual tools to live with hope including saint quote ‘trading cards.’
Discover the saints as role models of hope throughout the year at Pilgrim Center of Hope on the third Thursday of each month during Socials with the Saints (2pm-3:30pm); events for fellowship with others, learning about and discussing the saints, and communal prayer.
Other free activities at the Center weekdays (8:30am-5:30pm) include self-guided Stations of the Cross along an outdoor pilgrim path, sitting in the Galilee Boat & Prayer Garden, browsing the sacred art and reliquary which features relics of saints and holy places, and submitting prayer petitions before the altar in Gethsemane Chapel, where the names of the deceased can also be entrusted to St. Joseph.
Discover the Shroud of Turin Exhibition
Fridays (10am-4pm) offer visitors of all faith backgrounds the opportunity to experience the world-class Who Is the Man of the Shroud? museum exhibition, now with audio narration; inviting visitors to draw their own conclusions about the Shroud of Turin, a linen cloth which some believe could be the burial cloth of Christ. Walk through history, art, geography, medical observations, scientific discoveries, Scripture, and view reproductions of the instruments of torture used on the Man whose image mysteriously appears on the Shroud. Slide presentations for small groups may be arranged prior to viewing the exhibition, by scheduling in advance.
“A Journey with the Shroud of Turin” presentations will be hosted at venues throughout the region during the Jubilee Year, including San Antonio College, Northwest Vista College, Texas A&M University San Antonio, and the El Camino de San Antonio Missions Pilgrimage Center.
Organize a Parish Mission or Retreat
Parishes are encouraged to contact Pilgrim Center of Hope to organize a Jubilee Year parish mission tailored to their pastoral goals, and to organize morning or day retreats — at their venue, or at Pilgrim Center of Hope, for parishioners, staff, pastoral leaders, or other ministries.
Pilgrim Center of Hope’s annual conferences will adopt a special focus during the Jubilee Year on renewing participants’ daily hope and trust in God. The Catholic Men’s Conference will take place Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Holy Trinity Banquet Hall in San Antonio. The Catholic Seniors' Conference for seniors, their family members, and caregivers will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025, at St. Luke Banquet Hall in San Antonio. The Catholic Women's Conference will return to the Norris Conference Center on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Celebrate at Rejoice in Hope!
Finally, a special Rejoice In Hope! brunch will take place Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Hilton San Antonio Hill Country Hotel in Westover Hills. Featured speaker Fr. Bart Tolleson, close friend of the real-life “Father Stu” (whose story as a boxer-turned-priest inspired the 2022 movie starring Mark Wahlberg) and author of Fr. Stuart Long’s biography, will share inspiring lessons from his friend about striving with hope along our journey to heaven, even as he battled a debilitating illness.
More opportunities for spiritual renewal are planned for 2025; visit the Center’s website PilgrimCenterOfHope.org or call 210-521-3377 for more information.
Originally written by Pilgrim Center of Hope for Today's Catholic newspaper.
Angela Sealana is the Media Coordinator for Pilgrim Center of Hope, having served at the apostolate since 2010. She also serves on the PCH Speaker Team.
Answering Christ’s call, Pilgrim Center of Hope guides people to encounter Him so as to live in hope, as pilgrims in daily life. See what’s happening & let us journey with you! Visit PilgrimCenterOfHope.org.
