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When inspiration becomes art: Book, song inspired by Pope’s Jubilee Message created by local author
- Details
- Tuesday, 01 September 2026
- Written by Dr. Shanessa Fenner
Karen Reid had a vision fueled by purpose, passion, and a desire to make a lasting impact. The power and profound message of the Pope’s Jubilee inspired her to write both a book and a song that invites others to discover that hope is not merely a feeling, but a force that can transform hearts and illuminate the possibility of a brighter tomorrow.
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed 2025 as the Holy Year of Jubilee for the Catholic Church, a sacred observance that takes place every 25 years as a time of grace, renewal and spiritual reflection.
The Jubilee invites the faithful to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, pilgrimage, reconciliation, and acts of charity.
The theme of the 2025 Jubilee, “Pilgrims of Hope,” offered a profound invitation to rediscover the source of our hope, which is the enduring love and mercy of God. Through the principles of Catholic social teaching, the faithful were encouraged to transform hope into action by caring for our common home and standing in solidarity with sisters and brothers facing the devastating realities of war, hunger and poverty.
“The book, It’s a Jubilee Year! Keep Hope Alive, is based off of the 2025 Jubilee year, and I decided to write the book after reading an article that the Pope had written about the Jubilee year,” said Reid, children’s book author and singer-songwriter. “He called it Pilgrims of Hope, and it came to me to write about it.”
She added, “I looked to see if there were any books about it and there were not any. It took me a day to write the story, and it is for the children to have something they can look to, learn all about the Jubilee year, and think about the small acts of kindness that they can do to help others, such as feeding the poor, helping those in need, helping the community or church, and using your talents to help others.”
Reid’s creative vision extended beyond the pages of her book. She was inspired to bring its message to life through a song as well.
“I wanted to expand on the message of the book and do more with the book for those that can’t read, so I wrote a song that did not take long to write,” said Reid. “My brother, Kelvin Underwood, is a musician, so I knew that I had someone that I could go to with the song.”
She added, “I was just sitting at home, and the lyrics came to me. I had to teach myself how to record using Apple’s GarageBand and Logic Pro, and how to set the equipment up in my closet to record. I had Leroy Hyson, acclaimed music director, to help with my vocals on the single, and he also did the background vocals for me.”
The soul-stirring track, "It’s a Jubilee Year! Keep Hope Alive", launched Aug. 14.
“The song is not written like a normal children’s song; I wanted it to be relatable to parents and adults as well,” said Reid. “They can listen to it along with their kid, and it is something they can enjoy.”
It is especially vital for young people to embrace this message, for they are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also the architects of the future they will inherit and shape.
“The children are the ones who can change the world and fix the problems that we are encountering today,” said Reid. “They can bring back that kindness is important, as well as getting along with others, and they can put the message out there and do wonders.”
Reid has been exploring meaningful ways to share the powerful message of hope and service.
“I have been trying to find as many ways as I can to get the message of hope and helping others out there,” said Reid.
Her ultimate goal is for the book and single to inspire others to embrace hope, serve with compassion, and recognize the power they have to make a difference in the world. One person’s willingness to serve can create a ripple of change that reaches far beyond themselves.
“I just want to get the book into as many hands as possible and the song to be heard,” said Reid.
“I also want the message of hope to reach hearts everywhere and inspire people to believe that one act of kindness and one voice can create a lasting impact on the world.
The song is available on all platforms and can be accessed at https://kmreid.hearnow.com/.
The book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
and Walmart.
For more information, visit www.reidforread.com or email reidforread@gmail.com.
