A Jubilee of Hope stamp designed by Hunter Dickens is shown, featuring an anchor and angels holding palms. Dickens is a seminarian for the Diocese of Owensboro and wrote a reflection for The Western Kentucky Catholic’s yearlong Pilgrims of Hope blog series. COURTESY OF HUNTER DICKENS
Writers across the diocese provided year’s worth of hope-filled jubilee reflections
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
In early 2025, The Western Kentucky Catholic launched Pilgrims of Hope, a yearlong blog series inspired by Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025.
In the bull, the late pontiff wrote, “My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope who will travel to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those others who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local Churches.”
Blog reflections were written by laity, priests, and religious from across the Diocese of Owensboro. Topics varied from stories of healing and forgiveness, to vocational discernment, to experiences of graces received during the jubilee itself.
From local parishioner Neena Gaynor’s opening blog reflection on hope and surprises, to closing reflection by Gasper River director Ben Warrell on hope ahead of the New Year 2026, every writer shared their unique perspectives on the virtue of hope in a world that so greatly needs it.
Read the entire series at westernkycatholic.com/category/pilgrims-of-hope.
Originally printed in the December 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
