VATICAN CITY, NOV 12, 1996 (VIS) - Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee Year 2000, today presented the official Jubilee logo at a conference in the Holy See Press Office.
He gave an overview of the 1995-96 pre-preparatory phase and looked at 1997, the first year of the three-year preparatory phase, dedicated to Christ, which starts on Saturday, November 30, when the Holy Father will preside at a solemn celebration of first vespers of the first Sunday of Advent in St. Peter's Basilica.
"This celebration," said the president, "will mark the opening of the most important phase of the Jubilee. There will be a special liturgy, inspired by Christ, 'Light of the world,' and it will be celebrated in syntony with the local Churches. Among the guests will be delegates of other churches and non- Catholic ecclesial communities."
Referring to the pre-preparatory phase, Cardinal Etchegaray noted the dedication, commitment and initiatives shown throughout the Church over the past two years in trying to realize the steps to the Jubilee Year as outlined by Pope John Paul in his 1994 Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio Adveniente." "We can say that we have prepared our bags well for a great trip."
He called this Letter "the spiritual charter of the entire Jubilee" and said that witnesses to "its extraordinary distribution" were the "numerous translations into diverse languages, such as Arabic, Swahili, Korean, Filipino, Russian, Malagasy and Creole."
The cardinal listed publications and documents produced by various Jubilee committees and commissions, including "Christ, Word of the Father," presented at today's conference. A new edition of the official magazine "Tertium Millennium" will be published by December and, starting in 1997, it will appear every two months. The jubilee committee intends to open a home page on the Internet in the near future.
Cardinal Etchegaray then turned to the logo which will be used for the Jubilee. Designed by a 22-year-old Italian art student, Emanuela Rocchi, the logo is a blue circle, indicating the universe, with a super-imposed cross of five colors, at whose center are five like-colored doves, representing the continents. In the four quadrants created by the cross, appear the words "CHRISTUS HERI HODIE SEMPER (Christ Yesterday Today Always)."
The cardinal explained that the cross "signifies the mystery of the Incarnation (when Christ became) 'similar to men'. ... The circular form represented by the doves underlines the spirit of solidarity which animates the Great Jubilee of the year 2000."
Fr. Angelo Amato, S.D.B., talked about the volume "Christ, Word of the Father," published by the Historical-Theological Commission of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, of which he is a member.
"The first two chapters," he said, "contain a reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation (chap. 1) and the rediscovery of catechesis as the proclamation of Christ and his work of salvation (chap. 2). The third chapter summarizes Christian understanding of Jesus Christ. In a particular way, the novelty of some models that are very close to our contemporary living is highlighted."
Fr. Amato continued, saying that "chapters 4 through 9 contain some catechistic-pastoral criteria for a new, integral proclamation based on the mystery of Christ to today's people: the narration of the history of Jesus (chaps. 4-7), the confession of Jesus, universal Savior of humanity (chap. 8), the relevance of Christian salvation today (chap. 9)."
He added that "chapter 10 is dedicated to the presence of Mary within the
saving mystery of Christ: a merciful and maternal presence, model of faith,
hope and charity."
OP/REPORT JUBILEE/ETCHEGARAY VIS 961112 (620)