Preparing for century8217;s last Christmas

NEW DELHI, November 23: 1999 has been a year of many lasts... the last Holi, the last Diwali and now the last Christmas -- of the millenn...

NEW DELHI, November 23: 1999 has been a year of many lasts8230; the last Holi, the last Diwali and now the last Christmas 8212; of the millennium, that is. Reason enough to celebrate these occasions in a very special way. To make this Christmas a memorable one, the Church in India has grand plans and the staff are working round the clock looking into every detail of the festivities. Christmas Eve 8217;99 won8217;t just be about midnight mass, Christmas trees, candles, stars, rose cakes and gifts. The Church has a lot more in store for celebration of the 8220;millennium Christmas spirit.8221;

The theme for the nationwide Christmas celebrations is Yesuchrista Jayanti 2000: Towards a new future. Just after midnight mass on December 24, every Catholic church in the country will hoist the jubilee flag marking the beginning of the jubilee year 2000. The special flag, bears the picture of a Cross in the background with five doves, symbolising the five continents of the world, flying around it. Rev Iryes Fernandes of the Catholic Church of India, told Express Newsline: 8220;The jubilee flag celebrates 2,000 years of Christianity all over the world. The five doves are depicted in five different colours 8211; yellow, green, red, blue and white. The flags will be distributed to 44 parishes in the Capital.8221;

Jubilee celebrations will also include a 8220;Know Your Neighbour8221; meet. Members of every parish in the Capital can invite their Hindu, Muslim and other non-Christian friends to the church for an inter-religious celebration.

8220;The local parish can hold the inter-religious meeting anytime between December 24 and 31 according to their convenience,8221; said a spokesperson at the Delhi Archbishop8217;s office. 8220;At the meet, the guests will present their views about different things. It will be a time for reconciliation. Moreover, it8217;s a great way of knowing your neighbour. Most of us don8217;t even know who our neighbours are.8221;

After the meeting, the guests will be treated to Christmas delicacies prepared by the church. The money for organising the get-together will come from contributions made by the parish members for the purpose. However, parishes that are not keen to hold the inter-religious meet may not do so, said Rev Fernandes. On the eve of the millennium, the parishes in the Capital will hold all-night long special prayers. The choirs of several local parishes have already begun practice for the grand celebrations. The service will continue till the early hours of January 1, 2000 when there will be a morning mass dedicated to Mother Mary for World Peace.

For those affiliated to the Church of North India, the celebrations begin on December 19 with carol singing around 6 p.m. at the church. On Christmas Eve, the usual midnight mass will be held. The covenant service will be held on the morning of January 1, 2000.

8220;As a part of the jubilee celebrations, all groups of Christians affiliated to various churches will meet in celebration of Christian Unity8217; on January 18,8221; said Dr Joseph D8217;Souza of the Young Men8217;s Christian Association.