The Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close on the Feast of the Epiphany, and we pause to reflect on what this year has meant for our community and for those we accompany, and to thank God for all the good work that has been carried out during this 45th Anniversary year of the establishment of the Jesuit Refugee Service.
The Jubilee, proclaimed by Pope Francis, invited the Church and the world to rediscover hope, a hope rooted in God’s promise and lived out in acts of mercy and solidarity.
At JRS UK, we warmly welcomed this initiative as this call naturally resonated deeply with our work. For those seeking sanctuary, hope is not an abstract concept; it is the daily lifeline that sustains them through uncertainty and hardship. Throughout this year, we have witnessed hope in action: in the resilience of refugees navigating complex systems, in the generosity of volunteers who offer their time and compassion, in the generosity of our supporters who enable the delivery of all of our services, and in the countless small gestures that affirm dignity and belonging that we see in our everyday work.
One woman we accompanied this year shared how, after years of destitution, finding welcome at our centre gave her “a reason to keep going.” Another refugee, who had fled conflict and endured months of isolation, spoke of the joy of joining our creative arts group: “Here, I feel human again.” These stories remind us that hope is not only proclaimed, it is lived in relationships of trust and care.
The Jubilee Year reminded us that hope is not passive. It moves us to act, to accompany, to advocate. In a world often overshadowed by fear and division, hope becomes a radical choice, a choice to believe that justice and peace are possible. Pope Francis urged us to be “pilgrims of hope,” and this year we have walked that path together with our refugee friends, striving to create spaces of welcome and friendship for those on the margins.
Migrants and Refugees as “Messengers of Hope”
Taking up the baton to lead the Church in this special year early last May, Pope Leo XIV brought another perspective on hope:
“In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope. Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes.”
He drew an analogy to the Israelites in the desert, quoting Psalm 91:3-6 to underscore God’s protection, portraying migrants’ journeys as acts of trust in divine hope.
He linked this hope to the Church’s essence:
“Migrants and refugees remind the Church of her pilgrim dimension, perpetually journeying towards her final homeland, sustained by a hope that is a theological virtue”.
Welcoming Communities
Welcoming communities, in turn, embody hope:
“The communities that welcome them can also be a living witness to hope, one that is understood as the promise of a present and a future where the dignity of all as children of God is recognized.”
We are grateful for the many ways our community embraced this vision: through prayer, through practical support, and through standing alongside refugees in their struggles and joys. Each encounter has been a sign of God’s presence, a reminder that hope flourishes when we share life with one another.
As it closes, the Jubilee Year has been, in Pope Leo’s words, a “great sign of [God’s] plan of hope for humanity and the world.” The holy doors of the major basilicas may be closing, but here at JRS UK the metaphorical doors of our heart remain open to welcome the stranger, to serve, accompany and champion their cause and that of all who need to find a place of safety and sanctuary, to the best of our ability.
As we look to the year ahead, the work continues. The challenges facing refugees remain immense, but so too does the call to hope. In 2026, we renew our commitment to accompany, serve, and advocate, trusting that, even in the darkest moments, light will break through.
We end this Jubilee Year with a prayer:
God of hope, You walk with us on every journey. Bless those who seek refuge and those who welcome them. May our hearts remain open, our hands ready to serve, And our voices bold in speaking for justice. Guide us into a future where hope is shared by all. Amen.
Thank you for being part of this mission. Together, let us continue to be pilgrims of hope.
