Reflection / Ken Ogorek

May this Christmas be a time for the lost ones to find their way home

As we approach the end of this jubilee year in our Church throughout the world, with a theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” let’s pause to thank God for the special blessings of this past year as well as asking for his ongoing gift of hope for 2026 and beyond. From Dec. 21, 2024, to Jan. 6, 2026, it’s been quite a journey!

Name That Year

When jubilee years come around (usually every 25 years) whoever is pope at the time tends to choose a theme. Pope Francis, from the unique perspective that only a pope has, looked out over our world and saw a great need for hope—the hope that faith in Jesus and the experience of his love make available to us all.

Our Holy Father also felt keenly the pilgrim nature of our Church—that we’re on a journey through salvation history, moving outward as missionary disciples. Hence the theme for this past jubilee year, again, “Pilgrims of Hope.”

We’re on a mission from God

My fondest memories of our jubilee year together include being asked by pastors to facilitate parish missions focusing on the virtue of hope.

These well-attended opportunities for God’s people to be reminded of hope’s presence and importance were personal blessings for me in that I saw so many parishioners show up and strive to grow in holiness. I was inspired and edified by the witness of God’s people.

The content of these missions made its way in part to The Criterion in the form of a column addressing two enemies of hope: despair and presumption. An Evangelization Outreach column, titled “Two enemies of hope: know them to have more hope,” appeared in the June 27, 2025, issue.

I also had the pleasure of discussing this topic on a podcast called “Iron Sharpens Iron:” Understanding the Enemies of Hope (featuring Ken Ogorek): Despair, Presumption and Pickles by IRON SHARPENS IRON | Podchaser.

We didn’t miss a beat

When Pope Francis passed to his eternal reward (may he rest in peace), Pope Leo XIV quickly resumed a focus on hope-filled and hope-related topics, especially via his emphasis on peace and unity.

Our own shepherd, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, offered his own pastoral reflection on peace and unity titled “Peace & Unity: A Pastoral Reflection,” reminding us that we can and should hope for God’s blessings, even if pursuing them is a bit of a process or journey—a pilgrimage, even.

It will be interesting to see if Pope Leo proclaims an extraordinary jubilee year for 2033—the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. Time will tell.

Hope is a journey and a destination

At Mass, we hear the phrase “… your pilgrim Church on Earth.” We’re also reminded at various junctures of faith formation that we are a pilgrim people.

Like the kingdom of God, our quest for hope won’t be fully realized this side of heaven. By God’s grace, though, we can receive and grow in the theological virtue of hope throughout our earthly journey, anticipating a full outpouring of divine love when we experience the heavenly banquet in God’s holy presence.

In the words of this year’s Jubilee prayer, “May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the Earth. Amen.”
 

(Ken Ogorek is executive director within the archdiocesan Secretariat for Evangelizing Catechesis. He can be reached at kogorek@archindy.org.) †