PAULISTS AND ECUMENISM

Fr. Michael McGarry, who has been in Jerusalem at the Tantur Ecumenical Center (operated by Notre Dame) for many years ,often says that one of the unique things about the Paulists is that we are a community committed both to mission, and also committed to ecumenism. He can think of communities committed to mission (such as Maryknoll, or Glenmary), and he can think of communities committed to ecumenism (such as the Graymoor Friars or the Sisters of Zion), but he cannot think of a community that, in its mission statement, affirms its commitment to both ecumenism and mission.

One of the reasons for our double commitment has to do with giants in our Paulist history who began to see the implications for ecumenism in the very mission of the Church. Fr. Thomas Stransky, the first Paulist to be elected
President" after we switched from the older "Superior General" model in 1968, has always been deeply interested in mission. But, as a result of his interest in mission, he became deeply involved at the Second Vatican Council with the emergence of an ecumenical vision in the Catholic Church.

Another Paulist Giant was Fr. John Sheerin who, for years, edited The Catholic World when it was published in a paper format. (Now, as you know, Paulist Press began publishing it in digital format over the internet at www.thecatholicworld.com where, incidentally, you can read some of his columns which are republished from time to time.) He became deeply interested in the Jewish question, undoubtedly arising out of the experience of the Holocaust, and for years was involved in Christian-Jewish dialogue.

These men helped shape our Paulist vision for ecumenism, represented in the ministry not only of Fr. McGarry, but also Fr. Thomas Ryan, who heads our Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and Fr. Ron Roberson, who works in Washington at the U.S. Bishops' national conference. In other words, the Paulists have invested much commitment, interest and manpower in our ecumenical awareness.

Many Catholics are not aware of the fact that ecumenism is actually a dimension of evangelization. The ecumenical movement began in the early years of the 20th century as a movement among Protestants arising from their mission work in Africa. So confused were the Africans by Christians of one denomination not getting along with Christians of another denomination, that the Protestants knew they had to start doing something different. What kind of witness can Christians give those who are searching when we, ourselves, are divided-- not sharing our table of the Eucharist and often fighting over doctrinal issues that many today cannot begin to understand.

Catholics signed on to the ecumenical movement rather late, in 1963, during the Second Vatican Council; the movement had been underway among Protestants and Orthodox believers for over half a century by then.

At the same time, Catholics, when thinking about evangelization, realize that the ecumenical movement has to be part of that. As early as 1975, when Pope Paul VI wrote "On Evangelization in the Modern Word," he talked about Christian Unity as one of the ways evangelization manifests itself. Pope John Paul II, when writing on ecumenism in his important encyclical "Ut Unum Sint," saw ecumenism under the aspect of "reconciliation"--churches and ecclesial communions had to repent under the Word of the Gospel in order to grow together in accord with the will of God.

Among Paulist congregations, usually there is an awareness of ecumenism somewhat stronger than in most parishes and communities, but, even here, ecumenism is often fairly far down on the agenda list, compared to other commitments that Paulists demonstrate in their ministry.

As Associates, what is our awareness of the ecumenical dimension in the Paulist mission? And what is our own personal commitment to furthering Christian unity and inter-religious sharing in our own personal lives? What opportunities lie open for lay people that perhaps even Paulists priests cannot avail themselves of? How does ecumenism stand in our vision of mission?

A SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR THE MEETING

1. Welcome and check in
2. Prayer from the Paulist Prayer Book
3. Reading from The Paulist Vocation, pp. 262-264 on "The Things that make for unity."
4. General reflections on the passage from Fr. Hecker
5. Review of Suggested Questions about our perspectives on ecumenism/interfaith dialogue.
6. New Business
7. Individual Reports: Apostolic opportunities that have come my way. (Encourage members to share situations in which some of the Paulist vision and Fr. Hecker's charisms were exercised.)
8. Plans for the next meeting.
9. Closing Prayer (For vocations, p. 411 in Paulist Prayer book.)


SUGGESTED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. How do you think most Catholics look at ecumenical efforts? Do you think Catholics see a difference between ecumenical and interfaith efforts?

2. How do you see ecumenical/interfaith efforts at work in local Paulist congregations? Is this a strong effort? What might strengthen it?

3. Speak from your own ecumenical/interfaith exchanges with friends and neighbors. What has it been like? How do these people look upon your faith?


CHRONOLOGY

Dec. 12-14, Paulist General Council meeting in New York
Jan. 19, Columbus Associates Retreat
January 25: Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

OPPORTUNITIES

Paulist Trip, with Fr. Jim Moran, "The Best of Greece and the Greek Isles: in the footsteps of St. Paul," 11 days, starting April 24, 2007. Check the Paulist website under "development" for detailed information (www.paulist.org).


Contact:
Frank DeSiano, CSP
Associate Coordinator
8611 Midland Parkway
Jamaica Estates, NY 11432
(718) 291-5995
 

December 2006
November 2006
September 2006