DIOCESE KICKS OFF JUBILEE YEAR 2025
January 8, 2025 at 10:13 a.m.
On a blustery, cold gray Sunday, the sounds of “The First Noel,” “We Three Kings” and “Gloria in Excelsis Deo" could be heard echoing through the streets of downtown Albany.
It was all part of a prayerful procession/pilgrimage, one filled with hope, that the faithful in the Diocese of Albany took part in on Jan. 5 to celebrate the opening of Jubilee Year 2025, which has the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The day started with a prayer service at Historic St. Mary’s on Capitol Hill, and was then followed by the half-mile prayerful procession/pilgrimage from St. Mary’s to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. As the procession began its way up Pine Street, it was led by an altar boy with incense and the Jubilee Cross, carried by John Travis, Cathedral parishioner, usher, altar server and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. As “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” was being sung, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger led diocesan priests, religious sisters and the faithful of the Diocese to Eagle Street as the procession wound its way to the Cathedral.
On the steps of the Cathedral, Bishop Scharfenberger lifted up the cross, faced the people and invited them to venerate the cross. Inside Bishop Scharfenberger and the diocesan priests made their way to the baptismal font where he led the faithful in the “rite of memorial of Baptism.”
The celebration of the Mass followed.