Opening the Doors of Hope

All who come to Saint Benedict’s Monastery this year are welcomed by a banner hanging above the exterior doors, marking the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 with the words, “Rejoice in Hope. Persevere in Prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

In the Bible, a “jubilee” is a time of renewal, forgiveness and reconciliation. Having its origins in Leviticus 25, the Jubilee Year is a time for each of us to reestablish a proper relationship with God, one another and creation. The first jubilee was celebrated in 1300 by Boniface VIII, who recommended that a jubilee be celebrated every 100 years. Considering that many of the faithful would be unable to experience a jubilee in their lifetime, this number was later reduced to 50 years, and more recently to 25. Today, along with “ordinary jubilees” every 25 years, popes may declare “extraordinary jubilees” for special occasions or purposes. This occurred most recently when Pope Francis proclaimed the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2016.

Holy Doors symbolize Christ, who called himself the “gateway for the sheep” (John 10:7). To mark the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Hope, the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome were blessed and opened on December 24, 2024. According to Pope Francis, the Holy Doors should be flung open “to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God that awakens in hearts the sure hope of salvation in Christ.”

Ever mindful of the marginalized, Pope Francis made history on December 26, 2024, by opening a Holy Door in the chapel of Rebibbia, Rome’s largest prison, as a sign of hope for the inmates. Pope Francis urged us to be beacons of hope to the young, elderly, poor, sick and migrants, stating, “We are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.”

To participate in the Jubilee Year of Hope, Sisters Catherine Duenne, Delores Dufner and Janine Mettling planned a special prayer service which was celebrated on January 8, 2025. The public was invited, and approximately 150 of us joined together as Sister Karen Rose, prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, blessed our exterior doors to the Gathering Place and the interior doors to Sacred Heart Chapel. We rang bells and sprinkled holy water as we lifted our hearts and voices in song: “In joy, we open wide a year of hope, of jubilee!”

Three speakers shared personal testimonies about how hope has made a difference in their lives and the lives of those with whom they work: Lana Faber of St. Cloud, Minn., a retired social worker and longtime friend of the community; Harry Fleegel of St. Cloud, executive director of Homeless Helping Homeless; and Blanca Guzman, coordinator of Latino ministries in the Cold Spring, Minn., area. The celebration concluded with everyone enjoying a simple meal in the monastery dining room.

Ritually opening our doors was only the beginning of our yearlong celebration. For our Liturgy of the Hours (common prayer for the world), we have new antiphons focused on hope, which we recite at Morning Prayer and sing at Evening Prayer. The antiphon texts were written by S. Delores Dufner using melodies written and published by Sister Christine Manderfeld. At Noon Prayer, we listen to readings focused on hope, which were selected by S. Catherine Duenne with the help of Sisters Katherine Kraft and Julie Schleper.

Additionally, we partnered with the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB+SJU) for two events. One was with the Benedictine Friends program in an evening entitled “Hour of Hope.” Cindy Gonzalez, director of CSB Campus Ministry, shared her personal testimony of how living with hope has helped her and her family overcome adversity. Everyone then shared in small groups and created greeting cards to be sent to those in need of hope.

At the second event, sisters and students joined together in a Vigil of Hope as we prayed for immigrants and refugees. After a candlelight procession from the CSB Multicultural Center to Sacred Heart Chapel, S. Karen Rose read the letter from Pope Francis to the United States bishops, urging them to “take a step forward in the construction of a society that is more fraternal, inclusive and respectful to the dignity of all.”

We are planning other prayer services and events throughout 2025 that you are welcome to attend. One event is a walking pilgrimage from Saint Benedict’s Monastery to Saint John’s Abbey on Saturday, September 6, 2025. We intend to bring together the two religious communities, area colleges and universities, youth groups, schools, parishes, families and all individuals who choose to participate and spread hope to others. It will begin with a short prayer service, continue with a five-mile walk along the Lake Wobegon Trail, and conclude with the celebration of Eucharist and a shared meal.

Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to make pilgrimages to sacred places throughout the year. We hope that Saint Benedict’s Monastery will be on your list of places to visit, either in person or virtually. If you come, you may pick up a Pilgrimage of Hope prayer card at the reception desk. You may choose to pray this prayer in our chapel, at home or at work, individually or with others. The words to this prayer can be found on page 8 of this magazine.

Although the Jubilee Year will officially come to an end with the closing of St. Peter’s Basilica’s Holy Doors on January 6, 2026, the seeds of hope we are planting now will continue to grow and flourish. Let us join and pray together during this Jubilee Year as we are all called and challenged to be bearers of hope in our troubled world.

Catherine Duenne, OSB

This article was featured on pages 6–7 in the spring 2025 issue of Benedictine Sisters and Friends.