The most worrisome is the 50year decline in attendance at Sunday services. Papal envoys have also met leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church, and next March, John Paul plans to visit Israel, which Israeli cabinet minister Shlomo Ben-Ami calls “a milestone in the relationship between the Jewish people and Christianity.”īut as Canadas Christian faithful prepare to celebrate the new millennium, many of their churches are grappling with formidable problems that threaten their very existence. Nantly Orthodox Catholic country in almost 1,000 years. ![]() THE IN~S1~ UTIONAL crisis has led to a spirit of evangelism In May, he visited Romania, the first trip by a Pope to any predomi. That solemn moment comes after a year in which the Pope has made significant gestures to heal centuries-old rifts among Christians, and improve Catholic-Jewish relations. “It is an extraordinary event, not just for Christians, but for the whole of humanity.” “This is a solemn moment,” says Ersilio Cardinal Tonini, a senior Vatican official. Once it has been opened, the stooped and frail pontiff, who, at 79, is suffering from Parkinsons disease among other ailments, will step across the threshold, making a symbolic entry to the third millennium. Shortly before midnight mass, Pope John Paul II will raise a silver hammer and knock three times at the Basilica’s 3V2m-tall bronze Holy Door. Peter’s Basilica, and the ceremony will be transmitted by satellite to more than 100 countries. The grandest Christian festival-the Vatican’s Jubilaeum AD 2000, which will include events honouring children, refugees, artisans and many others-is expected to attract 30 million pilgrims to Rome over the course of the year.įor the world’s one billion Roman Catholics, the jubilee year begins on Christmas Eve at St. Brazilian churches have been planning events for three years because the millennium coincides with the 500th anniversary of the European discovery of what is nowīrazil. In Korea, Catholic bishops have asked every church in the country to hold all-night prayer sessions beginning on New Years Eve. The approach of a new millennium has given the members of that vast family-two billion people, on every continent, and growing most rapidly in Africa-common cause for celebration. John in Saskatoon, “who have gone separate ways for a couple of hundred years.” “Were like members of the same family,” says Dean Allan Kirk, pastor at the Anglican Cathedral of St. (Despite their best efforts, scholars do not know the exact date of the nativity.) In the ecumenical spirit that is sweeping Christianity- the Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches recently agreed to end a 482-year-old theological feud-most events in this country are multi-denominational. Planned numerous events, including a huge interdenominational prayer assembly in Ottawa next May 26, as part of a worldwide celebration that many are calling J2K-the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. “It will be a signal to the world that Christians are rejoicing, and still doing God’s work,” says Gosse, “even though we have many problems.” ![]() The 5 5-year-old rector will have one of her parish volunteers ring the brass bell, and All Saints will help initiate a nationwide roll of bell-ringing planned for noon in each time zone, and lasting five minutes, to celebrate the start of the third Christian millennium. Come New Years Day, however, Gosse intends to be on the starting-as opposed to the receiving-end of a wave. The white wooden church-built in 1882-stands a stones throw from the Atlantic Ocean, and in rough weather, the enormous rollers that hammer the rocky shoreline douse the front doors with a salty spray. Shirley Gosse serves as rector of Canadas most easterly parish, overseeing All Saints Anglican in Pouch (pronounced Pooch) Cove, Nfld., about 25 km north of St.
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