The Diocese of Chiang Mai invites all parishes to prepare for the celebration of the Holy Year 2025, a year of hope and action in each locality. The main theme is pilgrimage, connecting with one another in each area, as our teacher, Jesus Christ, walked with his disciples, proclaiming the Good News of salvation through the commandment of love in a concrete way.

The Universal Church will begin the celebration on the evening of December 24, 2024, in Rome, and conclude on January 6, 2026. Each local church is encouraged to set its own schedule that aligns with the purpose of the celebration and to follow the guidelines provided throughout the year.

Therefore, each parish should be considered a place of pilgrimage, welcoming this important mission, as a place where pilgrims of hope come to receive the fullness of grace in this Holy Year and a place to organize various activities according to the guidelines set by the diocese.

Chiang Mai Diocese Guidelines for Participation in the Celebration of the Holy Year 2025, Year of Hope

1. Holy Year Schedule
The Diocese of Chiang Mai will begin on Saturday, December 28, 2024, and end on Saturday,
December 27, 2025.

2. Pilgrimage to Various Churches

Visit various churches within and outside the diocese to create a pilgrimage spirit and journey
together. Each diocese has its own designated pilgrimage sites.

The Diocese of Chiang Mai designates the following churches as pilgrimage sites:

 Sacred Heart Cathedral
 Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Lampang
 Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Mae Pon
 St. Patrick Church, Pa Tung
 St. Michael Garicoits Church, Chiang Dao
 Immaculate Conception Church, Muang Ngam
 St. Paul Church, Mae Sariang
 Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Khun Yuam

3. Receiving the Plenary Indulgence on this occasion

Christians can receive the Plenary Indulgence during this Holy Year according to the guidelines of the Church regarding the Plenary Indulgence for the Holy Year 2025.

3.1 Christians who are able to confess their sins should remember that we often neglect to apply the remission of sins from receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a good opportunity to purify ourselves from all sins and live in the grace and blessings of God perfectly. Therefore, it is an appropriate time to receive the Plenary Indulgence to remit these sins.

3.2 The reception of the Plenary Indulgence should be done with true intention and attention to participating in Mass, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist in Mass, along with a prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father.

3.3 Priests should preach to the faithful about the purpose and methods of receiving the plenary indulgence on this special occasion.

4. Power of Absolution

The Bishop grants all priests working in the Diocese of Chiang Mai the authority to absolve sins that are not reserved for the Holy See, according to Canon Law, Article 508, paragraph 1, such as the sin of abortion.

5. Special attention during the Holy Year During this Holy Year, we should pay special attention to the spiritual care of the faithful by:

 Organizing marriages for couples who have not received the sacrament of matrimony.
 Offering the sacrament of reconciliation before daily Mass.
 Gathering young people to participate in the mission of the Holy Year.
 Visiting pilgrimage sites and caring for the elderly, the sick, and the needy.
 Providing pastoral care to migrants and refugees.
 Promoting the care of creation and the spiritual renewal of the faithful.

So that all pilgrims of hope, including ourselves, can walk together in our different circumstances but with the same goal, priests and parish councils should work together to lead the faithful towards the same goal.

Even though the Holy Year of Hope is limited in time, let it be an opportunity for all of us to return to our focus on each other, to give hope to the hopeless, and to strengthen each other.

“Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. The love of God is real yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Let us all invite ourselves to ignite the spark of hope and move forward together, now and forever”.

May God bless you,
+ Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana
Bishop of the Diocese of Chiang Mai

Issued on November 6, 2024

(Fr. Matthew Sasin Mopho)
Secretary, Diocese of Chiang Mai