The Theme
The theme for the Diocesan Jubilee year 2024 is ‘Lazarus Come Out!’ The words ‘Come Out’ in the logo are meant to direct the invitation not to Lazarus but to each one of us who will participate in and live this jubilee year. Notice that the phrase ‘Come Out..!’ is more of a command, an order from the Lord that we shouldn’t ignore!
The Face
Right at the centre of the logo is an image of a human face but we don’t know whose face it is; this face could represent the diocese, the parish, the family, a group or a sodality or the individual. This face represents that which is being called to come out.
The Question Mark
Notice that the face in the logo is in a question mark form; this is meant to ask the question: who is it that is being called to come out? Is it me, is it my family or my parish, is it my group or sodality or is it the diocese? It also presupposes the question: to come out from where or from what? How and When? The call to come out should answer all or at least some of these questions.
The Spiral
The logo is in a spiral form to show that the call to come out is a process: the raising of Lazarus was a process: Jesus had to be shown where the tomb was, the stone had to be rolled back, Jesus had to call Lazarus to come out, Lazarus had to come out, the people had to untie him before he was finally free. Our call to come out is not something that is going to happen instantly, it will be a process - a journey
The Colours
The spiral has the liturgical colours of red, purple, green and white to show that the call to come out and the process or the journey of coming out is a continuous journey of faith that goes through out the liturgical year and through out the liturgical circles
The Cross
The cross used here is that of the resurrection. It is embraced by the hands to show that we are being called to come out to embrace the cross; to carry our crosses and follow the Lord; to pick up our crosses again if we had placed them down and continue on our journey of faith; to embrace the love of God symbolised by the cross and to share that love with others. We are called to resurrection, to freedom and to a new life in Christ.
110
The Number 110 simply symbolises the celebration that we have; 110 years since the arrival of the missionaries in our diocese and the tenth anniversary since the installation of Bp. Jose Luis as the fifth bishop of the diocese of Manzini.
