Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, has designated Graymoor as a pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year. We are thrilled and honored to receive this opportunity, especially as it comes on the heels of our 125th anniversary. Truly, this is a remarkable gift from God!
A Jubilee Year is a profound source of grace and mercy for Catholics worldwide. It is a time of reconciliation with God and neighbor, a time to perform acts of mercy, and a time to make a pilgrimage to draw nearer to God. In May 2024, Pope Francis proclaimed a Jubilee Year of Hope from December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026. The Jubilee Year tradition dates back 700 years and is rooted in Scripture, particularly Leviticus 25. (“It will be a Jubilee for you. Each of you shall return to his own property, and each shall return to his own clan.”)
We are busily preparing for the Jubilee Year at Graymoor and are planning many retreats, events, and opportunities for reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth, including:
- New Year of Hope Retreat, Wed., Jan. 22, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center.
- Ecumenical Prayer Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, also on Jan. 22, 2025, at the Interchurch Center Chapel.
In the spirit of St. Francis, our mission is to invite the world to join us in the quest for healing and reconciliation. There is no better way to live out this calling than to come away and rest with the Lord at our Holy Mountain, whether for a retreat, a conference, or simply a day of prayer. At Graymoor, our Franciscan values will be on full display, especially as we minister to those in need of physical and spiritual healing.
One of the greatest blessings of a Jubilee Year is the opportunity to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence. As our Minister General, Fr. Emil Tomaskovic, SA, reminds us: “The Church is bestowing upon the world one of the greatest graces this year—that is, to become even closer to God and to obtain a plenary indulgence. We at Graymoor are privileged to be channels of God’s peace and mercy as St. Francis of Assisi calls us to be.” Pilgrims visiting Graymoor can receive this special grace of plenary indulgence by participating in Holy Mass, prayer, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and other devotions.
In addition to Graymoor, Cardinal Dolan has identified the following as pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of New York: the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middletown; Mount Alvernia Retreat Center in Wappingers Falls; the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Stony Point; St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Upper Manhattan; St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown; the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Mulberry Street; and the Schoenstatt Shrine of Light on Staten Island.
We invite you to make a pilgrimage to Graymoor during this Jubilee Year to receive all the graces God wants to bestow upon you and your loved ones.