Sacred Heart community participates in the Jubilee of Youth

By Isabella Roma McCartney (USA), Yannina González Samilpa (Mexico) and Aśka Bąkowska (Poland), members of the coordinator team and participants in the “Hearts of Hope” program

This past July, the Society of the Sacred Heart welcomed young adults, partners in mission, and Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) to Rome for the “Hearts of Hope” program. The group journeyed together for 10 days as “Pilgrims of Hope” before and during the Jubilee of Youth, which took place July 28–August 3, 2025. 

RSCJ representing France, Hungary, Poland, Mexico and the United States worked with the USC Province Vocation and Young Adult Ministry Office to plan the “Hearts of Hope” program, with planning beginning last year. In Rome, Reyna González, RSCJ, and a team of young adults led the program. These young adult leaders also represented SacredHeartDNA — one of the Society’s young adult ministry initiatives. 

Throughout their time together, all participants explored what it means to live the call to inspire hope as members of the Sacred Heart family.

The journey began at the Villa Lante in Rome on Friday, July 25, 2025; however, the group had been preparing as a community for months. Starting in January, they met monthly on Zoom in an effort to cultivate an atmosphere of personal growth and to reflect on Pope Francis’ words, “Spes Non Confundit,” meaning “Hope does not disappoint.” 

In Rome, they joined hundreds of thousands of young Catholics from around the world ready to answer this invitation to hope and to look to the future with an open heart and inspire others through the revelation of God’s love. 

Over their days together, this intergenerational and international community representing 11 countries walked together with God, exploring how hope is foundational for living virtues like love and mercy, because hope encourages us to trust in God. 

The days were full of opportunities for personal and communal prayer, reflection, community building, and visits to holy sites.

The group visited Mater Admirabilis at the Trinità dei Monti and Pope Francis’s Burial Site at Saint Mary Major.

They visited the Holy Doors — traditionally opened only during Jubilee years — at the four major Papal Basilicas: Saint Peter’s in Vatican City, Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, and Saint Paul Outside the Walls. 

They walked in the footsteps of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat on the grounds at the Villa Lante and learned more about the history of the Society from the archivists at the General Archives — also located at the Villa Lante.

Urszula Krajewsk, RSCJ, from Poland; Lynne Lieux, RSCJ, from the United States; Françoise Chervreuil, RSCJ, from France; Reyna Gonzalez, RSCJ, from Mexico and the U.S.; and Imma De Stefanis, RSCJ, from the U.S, all presented to the group during the program.

One night, participants shared in a “cultural night,” during which all shared with the group the customs and traditions of their home country.

They went to the Jubilee of Youth Welcoming Mass at Saint Peter’s Square — which included a special surprise visit from Pope Leo XIV— participated in Penitential Day at the Circus Maximus, and attended the overnight vigil and closing Mass at Tor Vergata with Pope Leo XIV.

At the closing Mass, Pope Leo XIV reminded the crowd, “It is Jesus you seek when you seek happiness.” Participants were reminded that together we can change the world and create peace through friendship, dialogue and hope.

As the program came to a close, participants left with a strong conviction to be examples of hope. Clara Farid, a participant from Egypt, shared, “When your strength is gone, remember: His grace is sufficient, and His hope eternal. Jesus didn’t promise a life without storms, but He promised to be in the boat with us.” Clara’s words are a reminder that faith does not exempt us from hardship, pain, or struggle. God is always with us and God’s grace is not something we earn; it is something freely given. 

Mary Carmen, a participant from Mexico, expressed, “Christ has filled our hearts with His immense grace. We have been His witnesses looking at Him through our fellow pilgrims.”

An overarching theme throughout the group’s time together was “through community and shared experiences, we are renewed once again in hope and faith.”

As the group parted ways, they carried in their hearts the mission to go forward as “Hearts of Hope” ambassadors, sent forth to be witnesses of God’s love in our world.