Bishop Hying celebrating Jubilee Masses in September and October

The faithful are encouraged to join Bishop Donald J. Hying for Mass at each of the six Jubilee pilgrimage sites throughout the Diocese of Madison in September and October as part of the Church’s 2025 Jubilee celebration.

Bishop Hying will celebrate Mass at:

• St. Bernard Church, Watertown: Wednesday, September 10, 6:30 p.m.
• Nativity of Mary Church, Janesville: Thursday, September 11, 6:30 p.m.
• Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Monona: Tuesday, September 16, 6:30 p.m.
• St. Mary Church, Fennimore: Sunday, October 5, 8 a.m.
• Schoenstatt Shrine, Madison: Wednesday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.
• St. Cecilia Church, Wisconsin Dells: Wednesday, October 22, 6:00 p.m.

“A significant part of jubilee is pilgrimage,” Bishop Hying said. “Many millions of people will make pilgrimage to Rome to go through the Holy Doors. And the Holy Father has asked that each diocese designates certain churches as special pilgrimage sites in this year of Jubilee.”

Making a pilgrimage to any of the six diocesan Jubilee sites and participating in Mass is a great way to receive the Jubilee indulgence. To learn more about the plenary Jubilee indulgence, the four general ways to obtain it, and the usual conditions for indulgences provided in Church law, visit https://madisondiocese.org/jubilee.

“At those sites, you are certainly invited to pray, to go to confession, to attend Mass, to receive the Eucharist, to gain the special Jubilee Year indulgence, which is the remission of the temporal punishment of sin,” Bishop Hying said.

The practice of a Jubilee year has ancient roots in the Jewish tradition and evidence for it can be found in the Old Testament. The Jubilee was called every 50 years and was a time for forgiveness and a reminder of God's providence and mercy.

The Catholic Church has adopted this practice by having ordinary Jubilee years every 25 years. These years provide Catholics with an opportunity to reflect upon specific themes that are meant to renew faith and to draw people into deeper relationship with God and with one another.

In addition to the Jubilee Masses with Bishop Hying, all six pilgrimage sites will be open every Saturday of the Jubilee to pilgrims, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with exceptions for events such as funerals. Visit https://madisondiocese.org/jubilee for links to each site's website, which provide times for Mass, Confession, and Adoration.

The 2025 Jubilee will close on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2026.

“May this Jubilee year be one of hope, of a growth in love and faith for all of the faithful throughout our diocese, and may many hearts, starting with our own, be more profoundly converted to Christ,” Bishop Hying said.