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Bringing the Jubilee to the Elderly, the Sick, and the Forgotten

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Siriporn sits quietly in her bamboo hut nestled deep in the hills of Fang District, Northern Chiang Mai. At 83, her legs no longer carry her far. Her son left for Bangkok years ago; her daughter married and moved across the border. Once a month, she receives a visit from the parish priest who alone covers a region larger than Singapore. But this year, something extraordinary is happening. 

This year, the Jubilee of Hope is coming to her. 

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In his Message for the Fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Leo XIV reminds us:  “Blessed are those who have not lost hope.”  Even in the twilight of life, even in frailty and isolation, hope is a flame that should never be extinguished. 

The Holy Father’s message is more than words—it’s a call to action. 

 

A Jubilee for Everyone—Even the Forgotten 

In 2025, during the Jubilee of Hope, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life is issuing a profound challenge to all Catholics: 

Don’t let geography, mobility, or frailty rob anyone of the grace of a Jubilee. 


So this year, the celebration doesn’t just happen in Rome. It can happen in homes, in nursing wards, in refugee camps, and under thatch roofs in remote villages. The Eucharist will be celebrated wherever our elders and sick dwell. They, too, are pilgrims—not of feet, but of faith. 


Bishop Dario Gervasi, Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery, affirms this: 

“The elderly are never alone, but at the centre of the Church’s life… Their experience of life and faith is a precious heritage.” 


And we at Gebirah, a humanitarian Catholic organization from Singapore, are answering that call. 

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Gebirah’s Mission: Bringing the Jubilee to the Margins 

We are bringing the Pope’s message—and the grace of the Jubilee—directly to the elderly and the sick in the most forgotten communities in our region. 


Our mission begins with: 

  • The hill tribes of Fang in northern Chiang Mai, where elders like Siriporn live far from the Church’s physical reach. 

  • The sick and the elderly in Nazareth hospice in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, who often feel abandoned. 

  • The African refugee elders and sick in Hong Kong, living in legal limbo. 


Through local Eucharistic Celebration, a visit from our pastoral team, and distribution of the Pope’s letter and holy objects, we will bring the spiritual joy and comfort of the Jubilee direct to them. 

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How You Can Join Us 

At Gebirah, we believe that no one is too far for the love of Christ. Not the elderly, not the poor, not the sick. 


We carry the Jubilee to them—not by plane, nor by foot, but by grace and presence of God. 


Join us as we: 

  • Celebrate the Eucharist in villages, camps, and hospices. 

  • accompany the elders and sick, spiritually and emotionally. 

  • Bring the message from Pope Leo XIV and symbols of mercy to those who cannot come to Rome. 


Whether you’re a Catholic parish, a youth group, a parent, a donor, or simply someone with a heart for the elderly—you have a place in this mission. 


Let’s make the elderly feel loved. Let’s bring the Jubilee of Hope to those who cannot make a pilgrimage.  


If you would like to partner with us, support our work, or join one of our missions, we would love to hear from you. Together, let’s carry Christ’s hope to the margins of society—starting with the elderly, the poor, and the sick. 


For more information on our missions, please visit:  https://www.gebirah.org/phayao-thailand 

 
 
 

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