Any passport holder can obtain a Jubilee stamp when they visit designated West Country churches in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.
Each is important for historical and spiritual reasons. They include St Mary an St Boniface, the Cathedral Church of Plymouth, and the parish of St Cuthbert Mayne in Launceston, Cornwall named after the 16th century missionary to Cornwall. He was the first “seminary” priest to die a martyr in 1577.
Other Jubilee churches include Holy Trinity in Dorchester, Dorset and the national shrine of St Boniface in Crediton, Devon.
Bishop Marcus Stock of Leeds, the chairman of the Catholic Education Service has announced that 24 January is the launch day for schools to start marking the Jubilee.
In a letter to schools, he said: “The theme of Jubilee 2025 is Hope, the hope that comes from knowing we are loved by God, the hope we can bring to those in most need, and the hope we can bring to our common home, the earth.
“There will be opportunities for the whole school community to experience the joy of sharing their faith in prayer and worship, and take action together as pilgrims of hope “in service to God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace”.
Cafod, in partnership with the Catholic Education Service and the Caritas Social Action Network, is supporting schools with resources and activities for the Jubilee year.
Last week, bishops from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland met for two days in London. The president of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, attended the meeting alongside Bishop John Keenan of Paisley, president of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference and Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
They discussed shared concerns including assisted dying and proposed assisted suicide legislation, migration, conflict in the Holy Land, safeguarding and the Jubilee year.