By Kathi Stearns

Staff Writer

ATLANTA—More than 300 people gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King to join Archbishop John F. Donoghue as he celebrated a holy hour from 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Dec. 31 as Catholics throughout the universal church entered into the Jubilee Year.

The archbishop was joined by Msgr. Tom Kenny, rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. He was assisted by Deacon Whitney Robichaux and Rev. Mr. Roberto Orellano. Deacon Robichaux proclaimed the Gospel.

During his homily the archbishop spoke of the Time magazine choice of Albert Einstein as the man of the century.

"The man of this century, by standards of human learning, has been named by Time magazine to be none other than the man who has given us the great idea of the century---the idea that in some way, energy, matter and time are interrelated, are measurable, and most ominous can somehow be harnessed by human ingenuity," the archbishop said.

"Despite all the flurry in the printed media, on TV and the internet about the accomplishments of mankind and the most important person of the last hundred or thousand years, we know there can be but one answer---the person for this and any other millennium---Jesus Christ---and we know that progress can only be truly measured by how far the Gospel has reached-into hearts and minds of men and women everywhere."

The archbishop said the Jubilee Year gives each of us a chance to remember that God has called us to align ourselves with the angels of light against the angels of darkness.

"The Jubilee Year gives us the chance to put aside our arrogance, our pretense that anything we do is greater or more important than what God has done for us," the archbishop said. "It is Christ who has entered the world, who has turned to the Father, who has prayed to the Father and said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

"The Jubilee Year is to remind us of who we are, and of who we are not, in relationship to God---and this reminding is not always welcome or pleasant---for it is not uncommon for us to have fallen so deeply into bad habits that God has become an afterthought."

The archbishop said the Jubilee Year opens a door through which a heavenly light shines.

"It is a light that shows us the order, the majesty, the symmetry, the balance of the universe-because it is suffused and filled with the most sublime energy, the most perfect time, and the highest concept of being we can imagine---the Goodness of God, the grace of God, the love of God, which is Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Universe."

It is through this door of Jubilee, the archbishop said, that voices from Scripture speak to each of us regarding the absolute truth about one's future.

John the Baptist, whom the archbishop identified as the first prophet of the age of salvation, admonished us to, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

A second prophecy came from a vision in the mind of St. John the Beloved Disciple, the last prophet of divine revelation. In this vision he saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down from God's heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. He heard a voice proclaim, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."

"If we believe the revelation of the time that is to come, then what better moment to contemplate the joy that is held out to us, the joy of the heavenly Jerusalem, as we stand here at the doorway into the next millennium preparing to cross the threshold into the next era of mankind's life."

These prophets, said the archbishop, tell us to rededicate ourselves to the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

The archbishop also reminded the congregation of the importance of the warning of John the Baptist, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

"Let us now, with this new time we have been given, take our sins to the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation, and get ready, as if it were happening tomorrow, or this very morning---get ready for the coming of Christ and His kingdom, where only the just, the forgiven and the redeemed will be welcomed in; and let us fill our souls and bodies with the food of enlightenment and the light of pure knowledge which comes from receiving often, and in the state of grace, the Body of our Lord in the Sacrament of the Eucharist---so that we may never fail to see and believe the vision of the new city which comes from heaven."

The holy hour was followed by a Mass celebrating the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, at the cathedral at 12:30 a.m. The archbishop presided over the liturgy in which Msgr. Kenny was the principal celebrant.

In a June 4 pastoral letter Archbishop Donoghue encouraged Catholics throughout the archdiocese to begin the Jubilee Year with some form of eucharistic prayer. Various celebrations were held in parishes throughout the archdiocese.

One of the best-attended services was held at Corpus Christi Church in Stone Mountain. Adoration began at 11 p.m. when the monstrance was moved from the Perpetual Adoration Chapel to the main altar. Festively attired individuals and families quietly joined the congregation during the holy hour and the church was filled to capacity for the Mass which followed at midnight.

Corpus Christi pastor Father Greg Kenny, CMF, celebrated the Mass which was concelebrated by Fathers Severino Lopez, CMF, and John Molyneux, CMF. Prominently displayed Jubilee banners emphasized Father Kenny's theme of opening the door to Christ in a special way this Jubilee Year.

After the Mass hundreds of parishioners were treated to a full sit-down breakfast served by the Knights of Columbus in the beautifully decorated parish hall.

SHEPHERD -- Archbishop John F. Donoghue prays during the holy hour at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, Dec. 31.
Photo by Kathi Stearns