ORLANDO | Darian Hernandez stepped off the bus accompanied by more than 100 other pilgrims from St. Paul Parish in Leesburg visiting St. James Cathedral, one of three Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Orlando.

He came because he wanted to “experience something new.” Hernandez admitted he was not “100% devoted,” but he came after his mother invited him and told him about the possible indulgence he could receive. He was curious and because he loves architecture, he was eager to see the cathedral for himself.

In keeping with the theme of the Jubilee Year, “Hope does not disappoint,” he said he was in awe of the beauty of the cathedral. Asked where he saw God that day, he responded, “Mostly in my mom, she’s always pushing me to go to places like this. I see God in her and that helps me see Him.”

His mom, Kellin Alvarez, was also moved by the experience. “I came on pilgrimage to learn more and carry the message of Christ’s love for us to others, to tell them Jesus Christ gave His life for us and we must be thankful every day for all He gives us,” she said. “From this I take away much peace, tranquility and joy and the great desire to share His message with others.”

Her hope was contagious, reaching her young cousin, José Antonio. He was impressed by the art.

“I take home many good things in my heart — most importantly peace and more wisdom. I am thankful to God for the Mass and the opportunity to pray for my family and all my loved ones,” he said.

Tomás Evans, St. Paul campus director of evangelization and discipleship, was excited about the turnout. He brought two buses from his parish. The day included a talk in English by Parochial Administrator Father Stephen Ogonwa on renewal and one in Spanish by Evans who spoke of what it means to be a pilgrim of hope.

“I am very happy because this is part of my life to become a disciple of Christ,” Evans said. “What it means to me in the real world, in a practical way, is bringing people to Jesus Christ.”

For the pilgrimage, Dan Wallace and Laura Rolón led a tour of the cathedral. Although St. Paul Parish made the largest pilgrimage so far, Wallace and Rolón have welcomed almost 700 from more than a dozen parishes throughout the diocese.

Another group making a summer pilgrimage was St. Vincent de Paul Society members from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in St. Cloud, led by Father Blake Britton. The other two pilgrimage sites are the Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach and the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, and the small group had visited the Basilica in Daytona Beach in late June.

“This Jubilee Year of Hope we’re invited by Mother Church to restore and contemplate the source of our hope as Christians, and above all else, our identity as God’s daughters and sons, the fact that we’ve been claimed by the blood of Christ in the Sacrament of Baptism,” Father Britton said. “This, in the end, is always what leads us forward in hope, sustains our hope, and helps us to be grounded in the hope of Christ Jesus.”

Their visit to the 100-year-old basilica included Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. These spiritual opportunities to deepen her faith helped Judy Reiber come to a deeper understanding “about this journey of hope we are on,” she said.

“The two main goals of the society are for its members to grow in holiness and serve others,” Reiber said, adding the pilgrimage affirmed these commitments. She particularly appreciated Father Britton’s talk about what it means to have hope, to be children of God and about sharing that love with others. “It’s been very uplifting and fulfilling,” she said.

Her husband, Tom, added, “This is a broken world, and I needed a shot of hope.”

“Fellow pilgrim Marisol Pereira said she is grateful for the timing of this Jubilee Year of Hope because she is now “closer to the Word of God and everything that surrounds me.”

“I walk to Jesus in good times, and I run to Jesus looking for hope and joy when trouble comes,” Pereira said. “I think I’m in a season where I need hope and joy. Coming to this has been a blessing.”

These pilgrims are much like those represented on the Jubilee logo – the four figures represent “all of humanity, coming from the four corners of the earth,” according to the iubilaeum 2025 Vatican website. “They embrace each other to indicate the solidarity and fraternity which should unite all peoples. The figure at the front is holding onto the cross. It is not only the sign of the faith which this lead figure embraces, but also of hope, which can never be abandoned, because we are always in need of hope, especially in our moments of greatest need.” 

“The website also explains the rough waves beneath the pilgrims, “symbolizes the fact that life’s pilgrimage does not always go smoothly in calm waters.” The cross the pilgrim at the front is” “holding becomes a curved anchor, representing the stabilizing force of God’s omnipresence in joy and sorrow, through fear and courage, loving and accompanying us at the deepest level.”

The Jubilee Year of Hope closes Jan. 6, 2026. To learn more about the Jubilee Year of Hope visit here.  

Watch a reel here.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, August 07, 2025