On Friday 24 January, we hosted a webinar discussing the significance of the Jubilee and how it might be integrated into members’ communications plans over the next 12 months. Fitting with the theme, we drew attention to the way that members are creating hope for those they serve on the frontline, and that this hope should be explicitly communicated during this year which seeks to remind us of it. Aware that the Jubilee is somewhat of an obscure concept, we hosted this session to establish some context and inform attendees of what a Jubilee is, and why it is important for our work. Our speakers shared insights on how we might go about using digital spaces effectively to spread the Jubilee message, emphasizing the importance of knowing the audience, defining objectives, and creating shareable content.
We were joined by:
- Raymond Friel – CSAN: “The Jubilee for Catholic Social Action”
- Georgia Clarke – Youth Minister and Contributor for Catholic Voices: “Speaking Catholic – Communicating the Jubilee Message”
- Chris Parreno – Peter’s House: “Using the digital space to spread the Jubilee message”
The Caritas Internationalis campaign, Turn Debt into Hope, was highlighted, as a practical way to encourage global leaders and decision-makers to cancel the debts of those who cannot repay.
The Papal Bull, Spes Non Confundit, was referenced as the core text leading our activities this year. We discussed the theme of hope and how this must be an integral part of our comms work, especially in social action where members are able to offer opportunities to those that suffer most in our society.
CSAN have also collaborated with CAFOD, the Catholic Education Service, and CYMFed, to launch the Jubilee for Schools in England and Wales. A video introduction can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yia25rOML2Q
Georgia introduced the work of Catholic Voices, whose mission it is to train lay people to communicate the truth of Catholicism with charity and clarity. As an example of her work, she briefly explained the commonly misunderstood concept of indulgences and suggested some ways in which this can be explained to those that may raise questions about them. She also highlighted the hope present in the Network through the work of our charities to respond in selfless love to those who are suffering (e.g., the sick, the young, migrants, the elderly, and the poor). Accordingly, it was suggested that hope as a theme that should be explicitly identified in our work this year.
Chris shared her tips for establishing a marketing strategy for reaching our intended target audiences during this year. This required a process of defining stepping stones to create effective pathways for users to consume our content. It is vital that the content is both shareable and engaging, underscoring the importance of breaking down complex concepts into simple, understandable parts for the audience. Chris signposted us to the WeBelieve Festival which takes place at St Mary’s College, Oscott in July 2025 which aims to celebrate our Faith and Christian living in this Jubilee Year: https://www.webelievefestival.com/
