By Sibu SOCCOM
SIBU — On Saturday morning at 7.30am, 22 February 2025, St Teresa Oratory welcomed the first batch of more than 70 pilgrims from the St Francis Capuchin Friary Sibu.
Leading the group was Fr Raphael Samosir, a Sibu diocese Capuchin priest.
St Teresa Oratory (1960) is one of the three designated pilgrimage centres in the Sibu Diocese. The other two designated pilgrimage centres are St Anthony’s Heritage Centre (1940) Sarikei and Sacred Heart Chapel, Bawan Kanowit (1899).
Before entering the Door of Hope of St Teresa Oratory, Fr Raphael led the group to recite the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the pilgrims. This was followed by the Enthronement of the Bible.
A brief history of St Teresa Oratory and a catechesis of the Oratory’s Icon painting of the Crucifixion was given by brother of Neocatechumenal Way community, Richard Lim. Fr Raphael in his prayers blessed all in attendance and gave thanks to St Teresa Oratory for opening the Door of HOPE to welcome all.
Pope Francis declared 2025 the Year of Jubilee, or “Pilgrims of Hope”, to bring hope to a world struggling with war, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Accompanying the declaration was a papal bull, titled “Spes Non Confudit,” meaning “Hope Does Not Disappoint.”
Jubilee Year marks a blessed chance for Catholics to visit holy sites, perform good deeds, and have their sins forgiven.
It began on Christmas Eve, 2024, when the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica was opened.
It will end on 6 January 2026, with the closing of the Holy Doors of St John Lateran, St Mary Major, and St Paul’s Outside the Walls.
“The Holy Door is deemed ‘Holy’ since it calls all those who enter through it to walk in holiness of life. In the footsteps of the Pope, during the singing of the Jubilee hymn, representatives of the entire People of God crossed its threshold, as a prelude to the countless pilgrims of hope from every country and language who will visit St Peter’s Basilica and celebrate the mysteries of salvation during the Holy Year.”
For the majority of the pilgrims who cannot visit St Peter’s Basilica, they can choose to make their pilgrimage to local designated pilgrimage centres.
Capuchin Fr Raphael blessed the pilgrims with a special prayer for their continuing journey to their final pilgrimage centre, St Anthony’s Heritage Centre (1940), Sarikei with a brief stopover at the Christ the King Church, Bintangor.
