By Bill Heaney
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has announced the appointed of Jim McKelvie as the Scottish Delegate for the Holy Year 2025.
The Holy Year is a special year of grace, in which the Catholic Church offers the faithful the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence.
Traditionally, it begins just before Christmas and ends on the Epiphany of the following year.
Pope Francis, left, will inaugurate the Holy Year with the rite of the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica. There is normally a gap of 25 years between Holy Years. The Vatican has announced the motto of Holy Year 2025 will be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’
Jim McKelvie said: “I am honoured to have been given the task of organising Scotland’s response to the Holy Year of 2025.
“The Holy Father is encouraging the faithful to visit the Eternal City, there are many events being planned for Rome, and individual countries are encouraged to organise their own events closer to home.”
“We hope to organise some pilgrimages to Rome from Scotland in the Holy Year, when there will be delegates from Scotland’s eight Dioceses we also intend to arrange pilgrimages and events in Scotland throughout 2025.”
“I hope parishioners across Scotland will get in touch with me as we seek to build awareness of this great event.”
Jim McKelvie trained to be a priest from 1974-1978, at the Royal Scots College, Valladolid in Spain.
Currently secretary of the San Ambrosio Society of former students of the Scots College.
He graduated Glasgow University, with an Honours degree in Hispanic Studies. Worked with Collins publishers for two years, compiling Spanish and Portuguese dictionaries.
Director of Carn Software Ltd, for 30 years, which supplies administration software to most of the dioceses throughout the UK. Carn also produces software for schools and charities.
Married to Mary, a retired Modern Languages teacher, for 38 years, Jim is an active member of St Aidan’s parish, Wishaw in the Diocese of Motherwell.
The Vatican Holy year website can be accessed at: