66he ‘holy door of God’s heart lies “The open before you.” Pope Francis made this declaration as he opened the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica, inaugurating the Jubilee Year of Hope on 24 December 2024.
The Jubilee is an extraordinary year when we are granted a revelation of the indulgent love of God for us. He calls us not because we are worthy, but since He himself will provide us with the banquet of holiness. As His word cries out in our churches, “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, buy grain and eat; Come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost!” (Is 55:1).
To respond to this banquet is to make the pilgrimage through the holy door of God’s heart. The Holy Door is deemed ‘Holy’ as it calls all those who enter through it to walk in holiness of life. Graced by holiness we can convey to every person on this earth the message of God’s love. The glimpse of God’s love will open eyes to the endless hope we have in a world that seems beyond hope. It is the hope with which our fathers in the faith exercised, who “believed ‘hoping against hope” (Rom 4:18). It is the one “hope that does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5).
Pope Francis at the beginning of the Jubilee, placed the entire church on the precious pilgrim path. The Holy Father completed his pilgrimage heading to the ultimate goal of the Father’s bosom. We continue this journey.
Pilgrims we are, for our citizenship is in heaven. Pilgrims have one goal and that is the encounter with God. Yet along the way, every pilgrim is a powerful sign in a crazy busy world directing all to remember the one reality which is the eternal goodness awaiting humankind.
Power 2025 was Divine’s Jubilee mission. Archbishop Andrews Thazhath invited the thousands of pilgrims on retreat by imparting the Jubilee blessing of God’s indulgences.
This year marks 3 decades of the ministry of the Divine Youth at Divine Retreat Centre. Over these years the Divine Youth powered by a self forgetfulness, has worked to draw generations to the source of life and light for the future which is Christ Himself, through yearly retreats.
Preparation for the Jubilee Youth Retreat began months in advance, as some 30 Divine Youth leaders and intercessors from around the world gathered daily, to pray for faces they have never seen, and people they may never know. Everyday these young people put aside their social and work engagements, some even getting up at midnight, to gather on Zoom and pray the rosary with 50 intentions. Over a hundred fold reward God granted us as thousands came in for the retreat, with deep anticipation in their hearts. Intercession had worked as a plough preparing the field of their hearts.
The love and favour of God is not an exclusive privilege of a few elite, but the overabundant flooding of love from the parent’s heart on every single child.
The gospels are inaugurated by multitudes who made a pilgrimage to hear the voice in the wilderness”. “At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins” (Mat 3:5,6).
At Power 2025, multitudes gathered from around the world. God drew a lineup of exceedingly anointed leaders in the church. The retreat was led by Fr Augustine Vallooran with Fr Jacob Arimpur, and the Divine Retreat Centre team, and Fr Joseph Edattu from UK, Bro Fritz Mascarenhas from Australia, Bro Jude Antoine from Malaysia, Bro Lalith Perera from Sri Lanka, and Bro Colin Calmiano from Bangalore. The gospel music bands enthralled the youth with music, and led them into the deep experience of worship.
As the Word of God was proclaimed, rivers of life and love flowed into the wilderness of hearts.
Josh, a student shared how she came here absolutely desperate. She saw the youth around her with their parents and parish groups. She shared how she felt lonely-pained that her mother had never once embraced her, and that her dad never spoke well to
her. During the Eucharistic adoration, she experienced being enfolded in the embrace of Jesus. Every regret and pain evaporated. She shared her one goal was to remain in the presence of Jesus, and to bring everyone to the endless hope of love in Jesus.
Sanj testified how he had forgotten to smile, because the emptiness of a heartbreak had engulfed his life. The joy of Jesus just filled him. For him Jesus would remain the love of his life.
This is holiness to be one with Jesus, and with Jesus to bring light to the world. This is the way of the pilgrim.
Life is a journey. While people usually journey to new places in search of better prospects for work and wealth, every step of the pilgrim is led by the loving voice of God. Being in range with God, we cross holy doors, entering in as sinners but proceeding forth as saints.
Pope Leo at the Jubilee speaking to the youth said, “Today your voices, your enthusiasm, your cries which are all for Jesus Christ will be heard to the ends of the earth.” A prophecy that this new generation of saints will transform the world. The Holy Father pointed the way of the future, “The world needs messages of hope. You are that message, and you must continue to give hope to everyone.” This is the transformation the Youth Retreats have effected in the hearts of every youth a new mission and confidence to share hope.
At St Peter’s Basilica two young men’s portraits are placed high above at the entrance St Pier Giorgio Frassati and St Carlo Acutis. A million gathered to witness the canonization. This is the age of young saints – the youth are becoming trailblazers in holiness. The earth will be renewed with their chorus of hope.