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Parish
Ecumenical
Representatives
by Thomas Ryan,
C.S.P.
"The concern
for unity is
fundamental to
the
understanding of
the Church. The
objective of
ecumenical
formation is
that all
Christians be
animated by the
ecumenical
spirit, whatever
their particular
mission and task
in the world and
society."
- Ecumenical
Directory, 58
What is a Parish
Ecumenical
Representative
(PER)?
A Parish
Ecumenical
Representative
is a parishioner
designated by
the pastor who
has a special
role in
communicating
and coordinating
local ecumenical
and interfaith
activity.
Why designate
a PER?
The desire and
the effort to
have a PER
appointed in
each parish
receives support
from the 1993
Vatican
Directory for
the Application
of Principles
and Norms on
Ecumenism
(Ecumenical
Directory) which
states:
The parish, as
an ecclesial
unity gathered
around the
Eucharist,
should be and
proclaim itself
to be, the place
of authentic
ecumenical
witness. Thus a
great task for
the parish is to
educate its
members in the
ecumenical
spirit. This
calls for a
pastoral program
which involves
someone charged
with promoting
and planning
ecumenical
activity,
working in close
harmony with the
parish priest;
this will help
in the various
forms of
collaboration
with the
corresponding
parishes of
other
Christians. (67)
The spiritual
development and
support of the
PER
Mutual support
and spiritual
nurture are the
vital
ingredients
enabling people
to pursue the
vision of
Christian unity
and
interreligious
understanding
with
faithfulness,
persistence, and
resiliency.
To develop an
ecumenical
spirituality,
the PER might
consider:
* Private and
public prayer
for the unity of
Christians,
since prayer is
regarded as the
"soul of the
whole ecumenical
movement"
(Decree on
Ecumenism, 8)
* Regular
reading that
will deepen
one's own
understanding
and appreciation
of the
ecumenical
movement and
interfaith
relations
* Facilitating
and/or
participating in
at least one
ecumenical
service and one
interfaith
gathering
annually
* Taking
advantage of
opportunities to
participate in
ecumenically
sponsored
forums,
conferences, and
other activities
What are the
functions of the
PER?
* To assist and
support the
pastor in making
the parish the
place of
authentic
ecumenical and
interfaith
witness
* To foster a
deeper
ecumenical and
interfaith
awareness among
parishioners by
inviting parish
organizations to
look at the
ecumenical/interfaith
dimension of
their program or
activity
* To encourage
and facilitate
parish
participation in
local ecumenical
and interfaith
activities
* To represent
the parish,
whenever
appropriate
according to
local custom, on
neighborhood
ecumenical and
interfaith
organizations or
ministries
* To serve as a
liaison between
the
parish/Vicariate
coordinators/Diocesan
Office of
Ecumenism/Paulist
North
American
Office for
Ecumenical and
Interfaith
Relations
The PER is
obviously not
intended to
carry the
ecumenical
mission for the
whole parish,
but to be a
resource person
for the parish,
identifying ways
in which the
parish can live
out a positive
ecumenical and
interreligious
witness.
What is the
pastor's role?
Each pastor is
invited to name
a parishioner to
this position
and submit the
name to the
appropriate
local, regional,
or national
agencies
concerned. The
PER will then
serve as the
contact for the
parish. While
others may
assist the PER
in the parish
(e.g. an
Ecumenical
Awareness
Committee), the
PER works
directly with
the pastor and
is ultimately
responsible to
him concerning
such
involvement.
Since the role
of the PER is to
facilitate the
promotion of
ecumenical and
interfaith
relations, the
pastor should
consider
appointing
someone with
organization
skills and an
interest in this
important work.
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