Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Bishop James Conley led a Mass on December 29 at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, marking the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope in the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. This event followed Pope Francis's announcement last May through a papal bull titled “Spes non confundit” (“Hope does not disappoint,” from Romans 5:5). The Pope instructed dioceses to celebrate Mass on this date to commence a year dedicated to grace and mercy, also requesting that each diocese display a jubilee cross in their cathedrals.

During the Mass, Bishop Conley blessed the jubilee cross for his diocese. Father Troy Schweiger, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lincoln, oversaw its construction with assistance from Deacon Stephen Kuchar, designer Mary Ellen Kudron, and David Reiser. The cross stands nine feet tall on a fifteen-inch base with arms spanning four and a half feet wide. It was stained dark walnut to match the cathedral's interior.

The crest at its center incorporates elements symbolizing various aspects of faith and local identity: an image representing universality, a star for Our Lady as seen on the diocesan coat of arms, and a corn cob signifying agriculture. An anchor symbolizes hope while keys denote unity with Rome. The design is based on a traditional "Pilgrim Cross," intended as a focal point for visitors.

In his homily, Bishop Conley emphasized hope through Jesus’s victory on the cross: “It is through the cross that our hope comes...the sign of victory.” He encouraged Catholics to see hope when making the sign of the cross.

Pope Francis expressed in his papal bull that he hopes this Jubilee will be “a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus...our salvation.”

A key aspect of jubilee years is gaining indulgences—a remission before God for sins already forgiven under certain conditions set by Church actions (CCC 1471). Conditions include sacramental confession within twenty days before or after an indulgenced activity; receiving Holy Communion; and prayers for intentions like ‘Our Father,’ ‘Hail Mary,’ and ‘Glory Be.’ A plenary indulgence requires no attachment even to venial sins.

Eight pilgrimage sites were designated by Bishop Conley across Lincoln's Diocese: Cathedral of Risen Christ; Pink Sisters’ Chapel (Lincoln); St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (North Platte); St Benedict (Nebraska City); St Mary (Orleans); St Anthony (Steinauer); Assumption Church (Dwight) along with Our Lady Fatima Shrine located at Arapahoe—all offering opportunities throughout this sacred period.