CATHOLIC COURIER DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER, N.Y. 3E 4 JpURSDAY DECEMBER 23,1999 Ipefl wide the doors to Christ to use new, old rituals in opening Holy Door the penitential sign of the purifying water the Walls during the first month of ju­ By Cindy Wooden and John Thavis formerly sprinkled on the door-jambs" by bilee activities. Catholic News Service the confessors, he said. Like the Catholics And for the first time in the history of - Pope John Paul II from Asia and Oceania, representatives holy years, the pope will open the Holy will push open the Holy Door at St. Pe­ from every continent will have a special Doors of all four major basilicas, symbol­ ter's Basilica on Eve, inaugu­ role during the ceremony as a concrete izing the spiritual passage offered the rating the Holy Year for the new millen­ sign that Christ's birth, death and resur­ faithful during a jubilee year. nium with a new ritual. rection are important for the whole Traditionally, the basilicas have marked The most noticeable difference from world, Bishop Marini said. penitential stops on a pilgrimage route holy years past will be the absence of a Representing Africa, a group of through . Although the conditions hammer, said Bishop Piero Marini, mas­ Catholics from Onitsha, Nigeria, will play for gaining jubilee-year have ter of papal liturgical ceremonies. The traditional horns in a call to all people to been expanded, prayer in the basilicas re­ wall sealing the Holy Door shut was to be join the celebration, he said. Lay men and mains a key element for pilgrims seeking dismantled after a brief Dec. 15 ceremo­ women from the Americas and Europe an in Rome. ny, taking away the symbolic value of hav­ will form a procession to carry the Gospel The basilicas have been spruced up ing the pope strike the wall with the ham­ to the basilica's main altar. with funds from the church and the Ital­ mer three times, Bishop Marini said Bishop Marini said that as of Dec. 14, ian government, with the church restor­ during a Dec. 14 press conference. the Vatican had received requests for ing the inside and Italy cleaning up the "Elements of the old ritual which have 55,000 tickets to watch the opening of the areas outside the buildings. become obsolete will be replaced by oth­ Holy Door and attend the Christmas On Christmas Day, the pope will travel ers which better express the biblical and Mass at midnight. St. Peter's Basilica, he across town to St. John Lateran, the cathe­ liturgical significance of the Holy Door," said, can hold a maximum of 7,000 peo­ dral of Rome and the first Christian basil­ he\;iid. ple. ica constructed in the city, where he will .•When Pope Alexander VI opened the It is up to officials at the Prefecture of open the Holy Door and lead an evening Hdjy Door on Christmas 1499, "he used the Papal Household to decide who gets vespers service. a mason's hammer, and the blows were tickets. The pope will open the Holy Door at not completely symbolic; the pope tried St. Mary Major Jan. 1, then celebrate Mass While St. Peter's Basilica will hold cen­ CNS to break through part of the wall," the. ter stage during Holy Year 2000, Rome's at its high altar, under which is a shrine bishop said. other three patriarchal basilicas — newly A mosaic of St Peter hangs over the believed to contain fragments of ' For centuries, the opening ceremony cleaned and restored — will host impor­ Holy Door in this view from the interi­ cradle. included a long pause to allow masons to tant jubilee events and a steady stream of or of St. Peter's Basilica. Pope John At St. Paul's Outside the Walls, built by finish taking the wall down before the pilgrims. Paul II will unseal and open the door the Emperor Constantine in the fourth pope crossed the threshold. Pope John Paul II plans to lead cere­ on Christmas Eve for the start of the century and rebuilt after a fire, the pope Pope John Paul will push on the huge, monies at the basilicas of St. John Later- Jubilee Holy Year. The event will be will open the Holy Door and lead an ec­ ornamental bronze doors with both an, St. Mary Major and St. Paul's Outside broadcast in tape delay on EWTN. umenical prayer service Jan. 18. hands. Bishop Marini said. Because the doors are extremely heavy, workmen in­ side the basilica will pull on them as the pope pushes. Rochester Diocese to unseal holy doors Another change for the Holy Year 2000, the bishop said, is the end of having embroidered red cloth. Whether on New Year's Eve or New By Kathleen Schwar the basilica's confessors wipe the thresh­ "The doors really have a-certain sym­ Year's Day, parishes from one end of the Assistant Editor old and door posts with cloths soaked in bolic nature as far as linking us; we're diocese to the other will be praying and holy water. From Rome to Rochester to Hornell, making this pilgrimage together," said Fa­ singing to greet the Jubilee Year 2000. Instead, Bishop Marini said, Catholics the opening of holy doors will symbolize ther Thomas Mull, pastor of Sacred St. Ann's Church in Hornell will host from Asia and Oceania will mark the the start of the of the Year Heart. an ecumenical service at 6:30 p.m. New doorway with perfume and decorate it 2000. Bishop Clark and Father Jaeger will Year's Eve, following a short candlelight with flowers while traditional Japanese As Pope John Paul II opens the Holy open the doors prior to midnight Mass. procession through town. The theme for music plays. Door of St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Elsewhere in the diocese, symbolically the march is "Jesus is the Light of the The flowers and perfume are meant to Eve, Bishop Matthew H. Clark will cere­ closed doors will be opened on New World." honor Christ — the gateor doorway of sal­ monially open side doors of Sacred Heart Year's Eve. At Holy Family Church in Auburn, Fa­ vation"'^- and to be a sign of the joy which . In Penn Yan, St. Michael's Parish has ther James C. Burke, priest administra­ was pa|t of the biblical jubilee years, the across the country joined invited the other six communities in its tor, will preside over a 4:30 p.m. Mass bishopfiaid. in the symbolic gesture of sealing their planning group to a New Year's Eve Mass and then proceed to Stella Maris Retreat IT he joy expressed by the flowers and doors during Advent of 1998 to serve as at 5 p.m., before which it will open and Conference Center in Skaneateles, fragrances adorning the door replaces a reminder of preparations for the Jubilee church doors. A painting by a St. where he'll say midnight Mass for a re­ Year. And a few parishes sealed their Michael's parishioner had been placed treat organized by Deacon John Toman- doors as well. across the inner doors over the past year. dl. Correction In Hornell on Dec. 24, Father James "We'll all come together for the cele­ "What could be a better way to begin A Holy Redeemer School class Jaeger will open the doors to St. Ann's bration," said Terri Milam, St. Michael's the new millennium than by having a was misidentified on Page 1 of the Church, which have been covered with secretary. Mass?" Father Burke asked. Dec. IB Catholic Courier. Sylvia Deisenroth, now at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Brighton, recog­ nized herself in the front far left, and Father Francis Vogt across from her, far right. THE HERITAGE More than the comforts of home. At The Heritage, you'll enjoy living in a friendly; caring community Catholic Courier (USPS 135-580) Vol. of physicians, nurses, and friends. Plus a range of services including 111 No. 12, December 23,1999 our on-site full-time physicians and medical staff, therapists, our Published weekly except the last Thursday in December. pharmacy, hair salon, country store, chapel with Subscription rates: single copy, 75c; one- fl* "I f|Q interfaith services, and recreation all under one year subscription in U.S., $20.00; *P X \J mm roof! The Heritage offers many more comforts and foreign $20.00 plus postage. Offices: 1150 Buffalo Road, Rochester, N.Y. A DAY along with the freedom to plan your own days. 14624, 716/328-4340. Periodicals So call (716) 342-1700 today for a tour and postage paid at Rochester, N.Y. consultation. We'll be happy to explain how we can accommodate POSTMASTER: Send address changes your schedule, financial situation, and the services you desire. to Catholic Courier, P.O. Box 24379, Rochester, N.Y. 14624.

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