JUBILEE YEAR 2000

The coming of the Third Millennium prompts the Christian community to lift its eyes of faith to embrace new horizons in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. It is imperative therefore at this special time to return more faithfully than ever to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, which shed new light upon the missionary task of the Church in view of the demands of evangelization today. At the Council, the Church became more deeply conscious both of the mystery which she herself is and of the apostolic mission entrusted to her by the Lord. This awareness commits the community of believers to live in the world knowing that they must be "the leaven and, as it were, the soul of human society, destined to be renewed in Christ and transformed into the family of God"...The imminent approach of the Jubilee offers a powerful stimulus in this direction. Incarnationis Mysterium

• Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ - the Word made Flesh

Initiate eucharistic adoration in your Parish, for more suggestions see the following video insert;

Renew your Prayer life using the Daily Office (Morning and Evening prayer) or visit Universalis to obtain the daily readings;

• Repentance

• New Evangelisation

Start a small faith sharing group in your community and invite friends, neighbours, work colleagues;

Run a small faith sharing group seminar in your Parish. Free training programme available.

Run a Called a Gifted Workshop in your Parish and raise up lay persons to exercise their Gifts in the Church.

• Ecumenism

• Social Doctrine of the Church

There is also need for a better appreciation and understanding of the signs of hope present in the last part of this century, even though they often remain hidden from our eyes. In society in general, such signs of hope include: scientific, technological and especially medical progress in the service of human life, a greater awareness of our responsibility for the environment, efforts to restore peace and justice wherever they have been violated, a desire for reconciliation and solidarity among different peoples, particularly in the complex relationship between the North and the South of the world. In the Church, they include a greater attention to the voice of the Spirit through the acceptance of charisms and the promotion of the laity, a deeper commitment to the cause of Christian unity and the increased interest in dialogue with other religions and with contemporary culture. [46]

1.
Blessed are you, Father,
who, in your infinite love,
gave us your only-begotten Son.
By the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate
in the spotless womb of the Virgin Mary
and was born in Bethlehem
two thousand years ago.

He became our companion on life's path
and gave new meaning to our history,
the journey we make together
in toil and suffering,
in faithfulness and love,
towards the new heaven and the new earth
where You, once death has been vanquished, will be all in all.

Praise and glory to You, Most Holy Trinity,
you alone are God most high!

2.
By your grace, O Father, may the Jubilee Year
be a time of deep conversion
and of joyful return to you.
May it be a time of reconciliation between people,
and of peace restored among nations,
a time when swords are beaten into ploughshares
and clash of arms gives way to songs of peace.

Father, grant that we may live this Jubilee Year
docile to the voice of the Spirit,
faithful to the way of Christ,
diligent in listening to your Word
and in approaching the wellsprings of grace.

Praise and glory to You, Most Holy Trinity,
you alone are God most high!

3.
Father, by the power of the Spirit,
strengthen the Church's commitment to the new evangelization
and guide our steps along the pathways of the world,
to proclaim Christ by our lives,
and to direct our earthly pilgrimage
towards the City of heavenly light.

May Christ's followers show forth their love
for the poor and the oppressed;
may they be one with those in need
and abound in works of mercy;
may they be compassionate towards all,
that they themselves may obtain indulgence and forgiveness from you.

Praise and glory to You, Most Holy Trinity,
you alone are God most high!

4.
Father, grant that your Son's disciples,
purified in memory and acknowledging their failings,
may be one, that the world may believe.
May dialogue between the followers of the great religions expand,
and may all people discover the joy of being your children.

May the intercession of Mary, Mother of your faithful people,
in union with the prayers of the Apostles, the Christian martyrs,
and the righteous of every people and every age,
make the Holy Year a time of renewed hope and joy in the Spirit
for each of us and for the whole Church.

Praise and glory to You, Most Holy Trinity,
you alone are God most high!

5.
To you, Almighty Father, Creator of the universe and of mankind,
through Christ, the Living One, Lord of time and history,
in the Spirit who makes all things holy,
be praise and honour and glory
now and for ever. Amen!

Joannes Paulus II