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A treasured cross, bequeathed to the Diocese of East Anglia Youth Service by Bishop Michael Evans, is set to play a key role in the Jubilee Year celebrations during 2025.
The Jubilee of 2025, which will be marked across the Catholic Church worldwide, will begin in East Anglia on December 29 when, as an echo of the liturgy of Good Friday, Bishop Peter Collins will lead a procession across the threshold of St John’s Cathedral, carrying a cross which is to be a focal point of devotion throughout the year’s celebrations.
Bishop’s Private Secretary Fr Peter Wygnanski, explained: “Because this simple rite is a sign of the journey of hope of the pilgrim people behind the cross of Christ, Pope Francis has called for the cross used in the Holy Year’s opening to hold particular significance, whether through its history, artistic quality, or the devotion it inspires among the faithful.
“To serve this role, Bishop Peter has selected a cross which was once the most treasured possession of his predecessor, Bishop Michael Evans; a prayerfully, hand-crafted replica of the cross venerated by the Taizé community in France which Bishop Michael considered his spiritual home. This Icon of the Crucifixion was bequeathed to the Diocesan Youth Service in the final days of Bishop Michael’s battle with cancer, reflecting his particular love and concern for young people.
“By this choice of Diocesan Jubilee Cross, Bishop Peter hopes to emphasises how understanding our past, and our connections to it, is essential for looking ahead with hope. This is particularly true in supporting our young people in their faith, who are the future of the diocese, as they pick up their cross to follow Christ,” said Fr Peter.
The cross is currently kept at the residence of the Ignite Team, as it is used in school and parish retreats across the Diocese as a focus for prayer, but it will find a home at St John’s Cathedral for the Jubilee year.
The worldwide Jubilee will begin with the opening of the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican by Pope Francis, at 7pm (Rome time) on December 24.
Pictured above is the Jubilee Cross – once the most treasured possession of Bishop Peter’s predecessor, Bishop Michael Evans.
