A Year of Grace |
The Australian Catholic Bishops are inviting the whole Catholic Church in Australia to refocus their lives on Jesus Christ, both in their prayer and their daily activities.
How might we do this? As part of their response, the Bishop's sought to recall the Apostolic Letter of Blessed Pope John Paul II Novo Millennio Ineunte (At the Beginning of the New Millennium) and take up the Pope's challenge to the whole church to "contemplate the face of Christ", (NMI 16) and to "start afresh from Christ" (NMI 29). The Bishops' have proposed that the period Pentecost 2012 to Pentecost 2013 be dedicated A Year of Grace.
Each diocese has been invited to appoint a Diocesan Coordinator to assist in the developing, shaping and implementing of A Year of Grace, nationally as well as in their own region. Bishop Brian Finnigan has appointed Mary Schwartz (Liturgy Office) the coordinator for the Toowoomba Diocese. Fr Peter Brock OAM has been appointed by the ACBC as Project Officer.
This weekend (19 November) Archbishop Philip Wilson, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has written to announce the forthcoming Year of Grace - Starting Afresh from Christ. "We invite you to join us in the journey of prayer". Read the Pastoral Letter.
The Logo |
There is no one symbol or message that the Year
of Grace logo is intended to convey. It is a bright
and stylish image which, in looking at it, has many
significant symbols and connections that can be
drawn:
• The cross
• The sun
• A circle that represents the infinity of God
• The halo incorporating a cross that
surrounds the head of Jesus in Eastern
iconography
• The host used at Mass
• The monstrance used in Eucharistic
adoration
• A link with the artistic tradition of our
Indigenous people
• The earthen, ochre colours of Australia
• A diversity of peoples and cultures, gathered
into one community
• A star-burst
• Light
There may be other ways in which the logo speaks
to people.
External Links |