The Apostolic Administrator of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Johannesburg says the 2025 Jubilee Year is an occasion “for all Catholics to renew their faith.”

In an interview with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) communication Office, Archbishop Emeritus Buti Joseph Tlhagale OMI said the launch of the 2025 Jubilee Year in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg on February 01, is “an encouragement, an occasion, an event for all Catholics to renew their faith.”

“To renew their way of life as Christians, to promote those virtues that have been demonstrated by Jesus Christ during his life here on earth,” said the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

The member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) went on to say that the Jubilee Year is “a spiritual journey” that will bring Catholics “closer to who Christ is.”

He said, “Not only are we to know about Christ, but also to imitate his lifestyle here on Earth.”

In the Saturday, January 18 interview Archbishop Emeritus Tlhagale OMI said the Jubilee Year scheduled to be launched at the Cathedral of Christ the King is an invitation to all Catholics “to put Christ in the centre,” and to increase one’s  “knowledge of who Christ is, because in doing so in knowing Christ more, we will then be in a position to imitate his mission.”

“His mission was to save mankind, our mission is to expand his mission here on earth, to build a Kingdom, a community, and a society that highlights the virtues of Christ in our lives,” he added.

Blessing of Statue of Mary and Enthronement of Sacred Heart Image

Archbishop Emeritus Tlhagale OMI also spoke about the significance of the enthronement of the Image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the blessing of the statue of Mary at the Mother of Mercy Shrine in Magaliesburg.

He said the celebration was “an occasion for renewing our belief, our faith, and our belief in the kindness and the mercy and the compassion of Jesus Christ.”

Over five thousand faithful gathered at the Marian Shrine in Magaliesburg on Saturday, January 18 to witness the blessing of the Stations of the Cross donated by sodalities and parishioners, including the first deputy secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC), Nomvula Mokonyane.

In the interview with the SACBC communication office Archbishop Emeritus Tlhagale OMI said his homily was inspired by Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical letter on the human and divine love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ – Dilexit nos (He Loved Us).

“This event,” he said, “follows on the publication of the encyclical letter of Pope Francis on the Divine and Human Heart of Jesus Christ. The significance of today’s event was to remember the publication and use it as an occasion for renewing our belief, our faith, and our belief in the kindness, mercy, and compassion of Jesus Christ, it is those virtues that we sought to highlight.”

The Apostolic Administrator of Johannesburg Archdiocese said Saturday’s celebration was a “good opportunity to reemphasize the message of the Holy Father” in the encyclical letter and encouraged all Catholics to obtain a copy.

“I think this gives us a good opportunity to reemphasize the message of the Holy Father in this encyclical letter and try and promote it amongst all the Catholics… And so, we have been saying to all Catholics that each one should have a copy, and this copy will serve as a companion in the spiritual journey,” said Archbishop Emeritus Tlhagale OMI.

“So that was the purpose of today’s feast, inviting every Catholic to come here and celebrate the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he concluded.