Bishop's Letters | Jubilee 2000-Pentecost 1996

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

"I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) With these words Jesus indicated His mission to share the gift of His life with all people. By His death, life, and resurrection, our Lord accomplished His mission and taught us how to live as Christians. As we appraoch the two thousand year anniversary of our Lord's birth, we prepare to celebrate the marvellous gift of Christ's life and to learn how to walk with Him ever more closely.

The entire life and ministry of Jesus was a fulfillment of the great biblical tradition of Jubilees. The Jubilee is a time for the relief of poverty, the liberation of captives, the forgiveness of debts, asserting the basic equality of all human beings whereby we are reminded that all creation belongs ultimately to God.

In his Apostolic Letter, Tertio Millennio Adveniente (The Advent of the Third Millennium), our Holy Father outlined a plan for this preparation. As we apppraoach the year 2000, he invites us to join all Christians throughout the world in deepening our faith in Jesus Christ, in seeking the unity which Christ desires for His Church, and renewing our committment to faithfully proclaim the Good News of His presence and action in our world. It is the prayer of our Holy Father that the Jubilee of the year 2000 will thus be a special year of God's favour and the beginning of a new springtime of Christian life.
In union with the Holy Father, I extend an invitation to all people in the Diocese of Hamilton to prepare for the great Jubilee of the year 2000.
Our Diocese Prepares In the spring of 1995, a special Jubilee 2000 committee was established. In collaboration with the staff of our diocesan offices and representatives from very part of the diocese, this committeee has developed an action plan based on the outline proposed by our Holy Father. I have approved this plan and have entrusted this committee with the role of coordinating our diocesan preparations for the Millennium.

1996 We are Church

During the remainder of this year we will focus our attention on rediscovering the rich teachings of the Second Vatican Council and deepening our understanding of them. We will also reflect on what it means to be members of the Church today.

1997 United in Christ

Our focus will be on the person of Jesus Christ and our share in His life through the sacrament of Baptism. Responding to our call to be disciples, we will seek to strengthen our relationships with our brothers and sisters in other Christian churches and communities.

1998 Open to the Spirit

During this year we will focus our attention on the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit. We will reflect on the variety of gifts and charisms provided by the Spirit for ministry in the Church and the world. Finally, we will consider the signs of hope present in the Church and in the world today.

1999 Called to Conversion

During the final year of preparation, we will look at our experience of sin, reconciliation, and healing, and be invited to deepen our conversion to the Lord. We will explore ways to celebrate God's reconciling action and to embrace a renewed committment to social justice.

2000 Invited to the Feast

The highlight of the Jubilee year will be celebrating the Eucharist as the great act of praise and thanksgiving for the mystery of the Incarnation. Nourished by these celebrations, we will begin the Third Millennium with renewed enthusiasm to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people.

As we prepare for Jubilee in the year 2000, it is hoped that the following will play a key role in the unfolding of the themes: attentiveness to the Word of God, prayer, participation in liturgical celebrations, growth in the knowledge of our Christian faith, the fostering of ecumenical relations, action for social justice, a recognition of the importance of youth and families, and opportunities for cultural activities.
Resources

A variety of resources will be made available to individuals and communities to assist them in their preparation for the Millennium.
- Apostolic Letter, Tertio Millennio Adveniente
- Getting Your Parish Started Kit
- Guided Scripture Study texts for small groups based on the themes of the Jubilee preparations
- Diocesan Book of Prayer
- Special prayer cards for individual, family, and school use
- Special prayers for parish meetings
- Resources for parish liturgy planning groups
- Resources for fostering ecumenical relations
- Guided study texts for social action
- Resources for elementary and secondary schools

Celebrations

Some special celebrations are planned each year to highlight the themes of our preparation.
- Youth gatherings
- Annual diocesan celebrations on the Feast of Christ the King
- Diocesan celebration of the Eucharist in the year 2000
Invitation

Every Christian is challenged to make the Jubilee year 2000 their own celebration. I encourage every person in our diocese to use this time of preparation to deepen and celebrate their Christian faith. I also invite every parish to consider the establishment of a Jubilee committee so that our efforts to prepare for the Third Millennium of Christianity will be fruitful. In this way, we will faithfully "proclaim the year of the Lord's favour" and enter a new springtime of Christian life.

May God bless you.



BISHOP OF HAMILTON