The Archdiocese of Jaro has designated seven historic churches in Iloilo City, Iloilo, and Guimaras as official pilgrimage sites for the 2025 Jubilee Year, one of the major events for the Roman Catholic Church.
Reverend Father Angelo Colada, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Commission on Social Communication, announced the selection of the churches with input from Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo.
The selected pilgrimage sites include:
• National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles (Jaro Cathedral, Iloilo City)
• Holy Rosary Chapel of the Dominican Sisters (Molo, Iloilo City)
• San Nicolas de Tolentino Church (Cabatuan, Iloilo)
• Saint Thomas of Villanova Parish (Miagao, Iloilo)
• Patronage of St. Joseph Parish (Pototan, Iloilo)
• Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles Parish (Barotac Viejo, Iloilo)
• St. Michael the Archangel Parish (Jordan, Guimaras)
Colada explained that the Archdiocese chose these churches for their historical importance and strategic locations across the diocese.
These holy sites span from Miagao in the south to Barotac Viejo in the north, while also including Guimaras and central Iloilo.
Jaro Cathedral, the heart of the Archdiocese, is also part of the selection. Each church will serve as a pilgrimage site, offering graces or indulgences to visitors, all while holding simultaneous celebrations, he added.
Colada also noted that the seven designated pilgrimage sites are set to draw pilgrims from across the region, offering them a distinctive spiritual experience throughout the Jubilee Year.
It is important to highlight that the Church observes the Jubilee every 25 years, unlike the Jewish tradition of celebrating it every 50 years, he said.
The historic celebrations will officially begin on Sunday, December 29, coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Family.
Jubilee Year
The 2025 Jubilee Year marks the 28th celebration of this sacred tradition, which Pope Boniface VIII first established in 1300.
Meanwhile, the term “Jubilee” comes from the Hebrew word yobel, meaning “ram’s horn,” traditionally blown to signal the beginning of the year.
Pope Francis inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee Year, dubbed the “Year of Hope,” by opening the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica on December 24, 2024.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.