The Diocese of Angra will solemnly conclude the Holy Year of Hope with a celebration at the Cathedral in Angra do Heroísmo, extending a special invitation to families to take part in this jubilee moment. The same call also marks the closing celebrations held in the diocese’s nine jubilee churches. This evening, the Church of the Colégio, in Angra, will host a concert that brings the Organ Cycle to a close—one of the most symbolic initiatives of the jubilee year—where music served as a living expression of Christian hope. Organist Rute Ponte will perform pieces inspired by hope within the context of the Christmas season, starting at 9:00 p.m., with free admission.

According to Igreja Açores, the final celebration takes on a special character by being directed particularly toward families, who are invited to participate together in this moment of thanksgiving and sending forth. Throughout the jubilee year, the diocese sought to reinforce the centrality of the family as a privileged space for the transmission of faith, education in hope, and the building of more humane and supportive relationships—a theme strongly present in the Christmas message of the Bishop of Angra, with particular emphasis on young couples.

This same theme was proposed to all nine jubilee churches of the Diocese of Angra, which throughout the year welcomed pilgrims, thematic celebrations, moments of reconciliation, and cultural and spiritual initiatives. With varied rhythms and approaches, these initiatives made the Jubilee a lived experience in a decentralized manner, close to local realities and island communities.

The closing of the Holy Year is also marked by its cultural and artistic dimension, with tonight’s concert at the Church of the Colégio in Angra do Heroísmo, signaling the end of the Organ Cycle. This initiative stood out as one of the most original expressions of the jubilee, uniting heritage, youth, and spirituality.

Over recent months, young organists had the opportunity to showcase their talent on the great historic organs of the diocese, spread across the three largest islands, transforming music into a true instrument of evangelization. Through the sound of the organ, the diocese sought to convey that hope is not merely an idea or a discourse, but an experience that is heard, felt, and shared.

For the Diocese of Angra, this musical cycle was also a clear sign of its commitment to youth, the appreciation of cultural heritage, and creativity as a language capable of touching both believers and non-believers. Music, it was emphasized throughout the year, thus became a way of proclaiming Christ as the hope that does not disappoint.

With this closing, the Holy Year of Hope formally comes to an end, but it opens the way to the diocese’s new pastoral cycle, integrated into the synodal journey toward the Jubilee of 500 years, in 2034. Between celebration, family, and music, the Church of the Azores reaffirms its conviction that hope remains a path to be walked—together.

In Correio dos Açores, from Igreja Açores

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.