CAMDEN – Lights adorning the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception’s Nativity scene twinkled as the Holy Family was lifted up as an example of hope for the closing Mass of the Jubilee Year.
“There are people here today with situations in their life, in their family, in their work, in their heart that are humanly hopeless. That’s when hope begins. … It’s only in the darkness that hope shines like a beautiful light,” Bishop Joseph Williams said in celebrating the Mass on the feast of the Holy Family.
“God our Father, in this Jubilee Year, you have opened to your Church the way of salvation and filled your sons and daughters with the hope that comes from you. Receive our good intentions and welcome our desire to convert our lives to you,” the Bishop prayed.
The Cathedral’s pews were full as families and individuals of all ages gathered with two dozen concelebrating priests, deacons, religious women and men, and seminarians the afternoon of Dec. 28.
The Mass was among diocesan celebrations across the globe that concluded the 2025 Jubilee Year – a year that began with Pope Francis opening the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 24, 2024. With the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” the year brought numerous jubilees celebrating everyone from artists and communicators, youth and grandparents, to priests, seminarians, religious and more – as well as opportunities for an indulgence, pilgrimages and spiritual renewal.
The Jubilee Year will formally conclude on Jan. 6, when Pope Leo XIV solemnly closes the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica.
In his homily, Bishop Williams preached on the Holy Family, highlighting Saint Joseph’s role, responsibilities and faith. Joseph is still wrestling with the mystery of a virgin birth and its implications for his life when Jesus is born.
“That’s OK to wrestle with God,” Bishop Williams said. “The important thing is, Joseph kept saying ‘yes’ [even when] the darkness got darker and darker. He’s now the head of a persecuted family. He finds out his child has gained the hateful gaze of the most powerful man in Judea. He has to take that family out of his hometown and be a refugee in Egypt, in a language he does not speak, and provide for this family until Herod dies. That is dark.”
“Joseph believes,” the Bishop said. “He always obeys, and obedience is the proof of his hope. … Like his wife, he believes that there’s going to be a fulfillment of everything that God has spoken to him. He’s hoping against hope. … What a lesson on what it means to be a saint.”
Looking at the Blessed Mother, he continued. “Think of the announcement she received nine months ago in Galilee. The angel of the Lord appears to her with great promises. She’s going to be the mother of the Redeemer. He’s going to sit on the throne of his father forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Fast-forward 33 years. Mary is now on the Mount of Calvary, contemplating the torture and Death of her son.
“Think about that for a moment,” Bishop Williams said. “This would have seemed to her like a complete negation. ‘My son’s going to be great. He’s going to sit on the throne. There’s no end to His kingdom, and now He’s died a painful death.’
“That is the dark night of the soul,” the Bishop said, explaining that at that point, it would have been natural to think, “I’ve been deceived.”
“Not Mary,” he said. “Mary stood firm in faith. She hoped against hope that she would see her son alive again. She didn’t know how, but she never lost hope in God’s Word.”
“Hope really only becomes hope, as a theological virtue, when things become humanly hopeless,” Bishop Williams said. “Then it becomes an infused gift, where we’re hoping with no reasons for hope. We’re hoping in God to do something that we cannot do for ourselves. That’s what we celebrate in this year of hope.”
“Let’s give the Lord this gift. He deserves it. He’s worthy of it. His hope, his action in our life never disappoints.”
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