This summer, twelve youth from Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS) will embark on a sacred and life-changing journey to Rome as participants in the 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrimage—a significant Catholic event celebrated once every 25 years and centred on healing, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. We are grateful for the generous financial support from Catholic Charities and the Catholic Children’s Aid Foundation for making this once-in-a-lifetime experience possible.
Rooted in the biblical tradition outlined in the Book of Leviticus and later embraced by the Catholic Church, the Jubilee calls pilgrims to undertake acts of reflection and faith. Pilgrims typically visit Rome’s four major basilicas, pass through the Holy Doors, and receive the sacrament of reconciliation—symbolic steps of personal and communal transformation.
The CCAS group begins their pilgrimage on July 19, departing from Toronto and travelling through Portugal, France, and Italy. Their first stops include the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France—both revered sites of healing, peace, and Marian devotion.
In Italy, the youth will continue their journey alongside other pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Toronto, travelling through Florence and Assisi—the home of St. Francis—before arriving in Rome. From July 28 to August 4, they will participate in Jubilee events for youth from around the world, pass through the Holy Doors, and take part in communal worship and reconciliation.
This unique pilgrimage is more than a physical journey—it’s a spiritual encounter that will allow our youth to explore their faith, connect with the global Church, and return home with renewed hope, deeper purpose, and lasting memories of community and connection.
