GARY – The Catholic Church is in the midst of celebrating a Jubilee Year of Hope. The theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” inspires the faithful to be a beacon of hope in a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, but how should Catholics live out that message of hope?
Following 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 1, Paul Jarzembowski, a native of the Diocese of Gary, will present on “Hope Does Not Disappoint: Understanding the Jubilee Year” at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels.
Jarzembowski is a national speaker, author and Andrean High School alum. He serves on staff for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington D.C., overseeing the U.S. bishops' engagement with laity ministry, ecclesial movements, youth and young adults. He was the lead staff for the USCCB engagement with the XV Synod of Bishops on “Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment,” and its post-synodal exhortation, “Christus Vivit.”
“Paul is an excellent presenter, although his specialty is young adult work, I'm hoping that not only young adults, but anybody who comes, will leave with a greater sense of hope at work in their lives,” said Father Michael Surufka, O.F.M, rector at the cathedral. “He's already done writing on hope before the Jubilee year was declared, and he’s a USCCB liaison for the Jubilee.”
Jarzembowski has written several books on the topic of hope including “Hope from the Ashes" (Paulist Press, 2021) and “Hope for the Holidays” (Paulist Press, 2023).
For Jarzembowski, hope is a defiant belief that God is in charge. It is the theological virtue that says no matter the obstacle, pain or tragedy, God will see his people through. This, he explained, is rooted in the Paschal Mystery: that the Resurrection always follows the Cross and Tomb.
“We may feel we are in pain or overwhelmed, but Jesus shows us that goodness always has the final word,” he said.
Jarzembowski shared that through his talk he wants people to recognize the glimmers of hope that God gives and people sometimes overlook.
“We can go about our days seeing nothing but frustrations, roadblocks or difficulties, but God also offers us some tangible reasons for hope to remind us that goodness always has the final say,” he said.
Jarzembowski stated that the Jubilee Year also challenges Catholics to be rays of hope for others. He shared that he personally leans on his namesake saint, Paul, for inspiration when it comes to matters surrounding hope. One of his favorite Scripture passages is Romans 12:9-21 where St. Paul offers ways that hope can be spread through mutual love for one another.
“He says to outdo one another in showing honor, to joyfully endure and persevere even in hardship, to avoid haughtiness and spend time with the poor, and to avoid vengeance as a response to pain,” Jarzembowski said. “St. Paul’s advice is as relevant in the twenty-first century as it was in the first.”
On the national level, Jarzembowski explained, the Church is continuing to support pilgrims from across the country during this Jubilee Holy Year. He invites everyone to check out the resources the USCCB has developed at usccb.org/jubilee2025.
He said, “We are also in the midst of the implementation phase of the recently-approved U.S. Bishops’ framework on ministries with youth and young adults (Listen, Teach, Send, 2024), while also doing preparatory listening and consultation on an upcoming USCCB framework on the lay apostolate. Lots of great things are happening!”
Regardless of his global and national work, Jarzembowski noted it is a joy to come home to the Diocese of Gary, where he first felt the call to pastoral ministry and where he was initially formed in the Catholic faith.
“It reminds me of my roots and the people who mentored and guided me: my family, my teachers, my pastors, and my fellow companions on this journey,” he said. “Each of us started on the path somewhere. For me, it was the Diocese of Gary, and for that, I am forever grateful.”
The Cathedral of Holy Angels is one of six parishes designated by Bishop Robert J. McClory as a pilgrimage church during the Jubilee Year of Hope. For more information on receiving a plenary indulgence and local Jubilee events, visit dcgary.org/2025jubilee.
Caption: Paul Jarzembowski, a Dyer native currently working for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., offers some ways to reduce stress during the hectic holiday season, straight from his new book, "Hope for the Holidays." He spoke to more than 100 people at a dinner program on Nov. 19, 2023 at Our Lady of Consolation in Merrillville. (NWIC file photo / Marlene A. Zloza )
