Koinonia Newsletter

Koinonia––participation, sharing, partnership, communion––a quarterly online journal of the Paulist Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Office, seeks to provide ongoing information, education, and practical resources. It is distributed electronically to members of the Paulist community, Diocesan Ecumenical Officers in the U.S. and Canada, ecumenical and interfaith colleagues in other churches and religions, and anyone interested in the ongoing work for Christian unity and interreligious understanding.

To subscribe to Koinonia via e-mail, send an e-mail with your request to [email protected] or click here.


Issue 80, Winter 2022

Fr. James DiLuzio shares his vision for his ecumenical and multi-faith ministry.


Thomas Ryan, C.S.P., outgoing Koinonia editor, looks back to the beginnings of this newsletter.


 

We humbly request your participation in an eight-question survey to help coordinate the Koinonia constituency for future dialogue and activities.


A poignant reflection from Sikh Satpal Singh, member of Religions for Peace, USA, from Buffalo, NY, on how he came to appreciate American guarantee of Religious Liberty and about his encounter with Pope Francis. (Previously published in the Washington Post.)


Issue 79, Fall 2021

Tom Ryan observes that the Church has a mission in the world, a job to do—evangelization, social justice, peace-making, combatting the challenge of secularism—and that the most effective way for the churches to address these tasks is by working together rather than alone.


Kelly Fassett shares various inspiring initiatives that are being undertaken in the Boston region towards racial, educational, housing and economic  justice and the nurturing of friendships across churches for accountability and support in peoples’ day-to-day lives.


John Borelli

John Borelli reflects on how Fratelli Tutti is the first major papal document after Vatican II primarily arising from interreligious experiences, with interreligious dialogue and cooperation as its impetus, and religious pluralism as a context for social friendship. 


Resources to Keep It Growing
New Books
  • Tear Down These Walls by John Armstrong, who has devoted three decades to the work of Christian unity. His story and ministry are reflected in this memoir of a life devoted to unity.  $23 – 40% discount available until Oct 1 with the promo code UNITY. 2 min. video about the book.
  • Transforming Interreligious Relations by Leo D. Lefebure, a professor of theology at Georgetown University, who shares what he has learned from his involvement  with Jews, Muslims, and Asian religious communities, and the implications of his learnings for contemporary Catholic identity  and spirituality (Orbis Books). 
Upcoming Events
  • Online talk and dialogue on Receptive Ecumenism:  On September 17, 10-11:30am, Dr. Paul Murray, a lay-Catholic theologian, will give a talk on Receptive Ecumenism which focuses on what we might learn and receive from our ecumenical partners as we grow together in the Church of Christ, as well as its implications and applications on a local level. This free 1.5 hr session will include time for dialogue and questions. More info and registration.

  • Baptists and Catholics Together?  September 22, 1pm ET. Join Baptist ecumenist Steven Harmon and Catholic ecumenist Paul Murray as they discuss Catholic-Baptist relations and how the Baptist-Catholic encounter can benefit the whole Christian community. 

  • The 8th Parliament of the World’s Religions– hosted for the first time virtually Oct 16-18, will bring together people of faith from around the world. The virtual Parliament is a safe way to gather the world’s global interfaith movement and celebrate the enduring spirit and work of religious and spiritual communities striving toward a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. The 2021 Parliament will not only provide attendees 48 hours of programming but the opportunity to access all the programming free with your registration for 30 days on the Accelevents platform after October 18th. This means re-watching all the plenaries, experiencing all the featured religious and spiritual observances, and attending all featured programs at the touch of a button. For more info about the program and schedule, and to register, click here. 

  • New 2022 date decided for World Council of Churches 11th Assembly: The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has approved a new date for the WCC 11th Assembly, which will now be held in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August – 8 September 2022. Originally planned for 2021, the event was postponed by one year because of the gravity and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Inner Freedom 

I want to be like 
that rooster
made of metal
standing alert on one leg
atop a pinnacled roof
stopping between engagements
looking and listening
equipoised
to move in the direction
the breath of God 
next blows. 

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org

 


Issue 78, Summer 2021

James Diluzio summarizes how The Equal Rights Amendment will guarantee that every aspect of the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments specifying “Men,” “Race,” and “Religion” applies equally to women and all gender identities because of its explicit wording: “rights shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.”


A statement by the Executive Committee of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies deploring the violence, bias, and prejudice directed at persons of Asian and Pacific-Islander descent in the United States and beyond. 


A summary by Judy Coode of a new publication by theologians and peace practitioners from around the world for advancing non-violence globally, with recommendations for how the Church might live into its Gospel non-violence mandate.


Resources to Keep It Growing
  • Summer Institute for Ecumenical Leadership – online July 6-9 and 12-16 in the afternoons from 1-4:30pm.  John Borelli will lead a diverse group of ecumenical leaders and scholars for this ongoing opportunity for formation for arch/diocesan officers, chancery leaders and local community leaders who seek a deeper understanding of the Church’s mission to seek Christian Unity.  With any questions, contact Fr. Don Rooney at 703-309-8719.

  • Parliament of the World’s ReligionsOctober 17-18, on the theme of “Opening Our Hearts to the World: Compassion in Action.” The Parliament program provides a unique opportunity for religious and spiritual leaders, theologians, activists, and organizers around the world to highlight the power of the interfaith movement. The Call for Programs for the 2021 Parliament has been extended to June 30, and a discounted registration rate to August 31

  • Tear Down These Walls: Following Jesus into Deeper Unity  – new book by Rev. John Armstrong, due to be published in late July-early August, and available at a 40% discount on pre-publication orders. You can pre-order the book from the publisher. (Use the code coupon: UNITY when you check out and your discount will be applied.)

  • Online Dialogue in celebration of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Guidebook: Care for Our Common Home. Thursday, July 29, 11:00am- 12 noon ET. “This guide offersinsights into how Catholics can bring the riches of the Catholic theological tradition to ecumenical and interreligious discussions and actions that uphold the dignity and sanctity of our environment.” Jointly published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers, and Catholic Climate Covenant. Click here to register and for webinar link.


Summer

It can happen in any season
but the heart has a better chance
of opening to life in summer
when the clothes come off
and we’re down to hairy legs and halter-tops.

That expansive throw-back-your-head-and-laugh
response to life in the face of all that still sits
in the sink or on the desk
is more effectively coaxed from the heart
in the season of boat rides and backyard barbeques.

The deep-belly conviction that the world will be kind to us floats up more easily
in the longer, warmer light of summer,
in the street musician’s free concert by the curb
and in exploding fireworks against a starry sky.

The discovery of the leisurely, relaxed step
and the comfort of friendly words with neighbors
comes with turning over garden dirt, watering the flowers and tomatoes,
sharing apples, cucumbers, and corn-on-the-cob.


A relaxing and enjoyable summer to you!

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org 


Issue 77, Spring 2021

Tom Ryan reflects on a hidden blessing during this time of the pandemic in which in-person discussions and dialogues are side-lined, leaving us to look within through prayer for unity.


In this era of church decline, John Armstrong proposes that we not curse the darkness but light a candle, becoming missionary disciples who pray and work for unity.


If we get a gut feeling that someone might be troubled, we need to trust our intuition, step out of our comfort zone, and ask if they are okay, says Linda Pacha. Someone’s life may depend on it.


Resources to Keep It Growing
  • National Workshop on Christian Unity, April 12-15The theme is “Abide in my love … you shall bear much fruit.” Online Network meetings will take place on Monday aft with opening prayer service in the eve. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, there will be devotions followed by the three plenaries at noon EDT/9am PDT. To register, go to nwcu.org.

  • “Words of Comfort, Prayers for the People”As we grieve the milestone of over 550,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in the United States, the National Council of Churches offers a prayer service, “Words of Comfort, Prayers for the People,” to help sustain and encourage you during this time of mourning and continued struggle due to the pandemic. Watch “Words of Comfort, Prayers for the People” on Facebook or on YouTube.You are invited to add your own prayer in the comments for the video or share your prayer on social media using #ATIME2MOURN.

  • Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyondthe most recent fruit of World Council of Churches’ long-standing collaborative partnership with the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

  • 54th International Ecumenical Seminar 2021, July 5-10  online event due to pandemic. Modern societies are pluralistic – not only, but also, in a religious sense. The three great monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam in particular often occur within the same countries and live together. Register by April 15.

  • CADEIO Institute for Interreligious Leadershipis also “going virtual” this summer. The Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers’ Summer Institute for Interreligious Leadership offers formation in Church teaching, overviews of various dialogues and conversations with people of many faiths:Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and the Bahai faith. There will be presentations and discussion daily from1-4:30pm, Tuesday 7 July – Friday  10 July, and Monday 13 July – Friday 17 July.  The cost to participants will be $250.If you have any questions, contact Fr. Don Rooney [email protected]

  • New 2022 date decided for WCC 11th Assembly as “opportunity to deepen visible unity.”The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has approved a new date for the WCC 11th Assembly, which will now be held in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August – 8 September 2022. Originally planned for 2021, the event was postponed for one year because of the gravity and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

To Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love,
All pray in their distress:
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.

For Mercy has a human heart,
Pity, a human face;
And Love, the human form divine,
And Peace, the human race.

And all must love the human form,
In heathen, Turk, or Jew,
Where Mercy, Love & Pity dwell,
There God is dwelling too.

William Blake (1789)

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org 


Issue 76, Winter 2021
  • Key Players in Prayer for Christian Unity
    As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity approaches, Tom Ryan reflects on its origins and evolution, with particular attention given to the contribution of the ecumenical women’s community of Grandchamp.
  • Losses and Gains
    After identifying a number of setbacks during the past year, Scott Brill “turns the tables” on his own disappointments and instead poses the question: What have we gained in 2020 that will help us press forward in hope into 2021?
  • Life-enriching Ecumenical and Interfaith Experience
    Alexei Smith shares how his past twenty years of experiences with both members and leaders of other churches as well as other world religions, have had a transformational impact in his own life and ministry.
Resources to Keep It Growing

 

Clouds

My calling is carried in the clouds
     born in water
     enspirited by wind
     drawn and sent by the sun
     transfigured by light

A way of life is passing overhead
     looking as soft and gentle as combed cotton
     yet carrying fearsome power in their folds
     changing form to fit the hours
     revealing gold in rainbow showers

My story is written in the clouds
     always changing on the surface
     but of stable elements composed
     like those in the realm of glory
     even when they pass and disappear
     they’re acting on our atmosphere

Let us join our hearts in prayer for all the afflicted in the pandemic and those who have lost loved ones.

A blessed New Year to you!

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org 


Issue 75, Fall 2020
The Importance of Ecumenical Friendships

Tom Ryan reflects on how theological consensus will open the door to church unity, but the only thing that will get us through that door is growing together in newly discovered fellowship and commitment.

Missional Partnerships as the New Normal: Grassroots
Kelly Fasset provides some concrete examples of local level efforts to bridge historic divides in the Christian church racially, culturally, and denominationally.

Revisiting John Paul II’s Call to Christian Unity 25 Years Later
Daniel Olsen reflects on John Paul II’s call to make the pursuit of Christian unity an integral part of all the church is and does, and offers examples of how everyone, regardless of their role in the church, can make a valuable contribution.

Resources to Keep It Growing

Towards a More Responsive and Inclusive Ecumenical Vision: 30 Veteran ecumenists from 14 countries met in Antelias, Lebanon, hosted by His Holiness Aram I. They attest that a compelling ecumenical vision is needed now more than ever given the environmental, social, and religious challenges of our era. Here are some valuable excerpts from their Consultation Report

How Churches in Europe Are Connecting and Collaborating With One Another:Reflections by a leader of Protestant churches in Europe on theirinterconnectedness, and what challenges and inspires him the most.

 

Spiritual Direction

My spiritual directors on this journey
are the trees, teaching me to pray with arms
and heart uplifted throughout the day,
and with their needles and leaves twittering
in the breeze throughout the hours, they teach
to stay tuned in both sunlight and showers
to the whisperings of the breath of God within.

You need to stay firmly rooted, they instruct,
In both the wet and dry soil of daily living,
and let not your bark become peeled, they counsel,
by the fluctuating temperatures of each season.
And in their hospitality to birds of every kind
they instruct me to open my heart and mind
to people of every culture, form, and color.


Let us join our hearts in prayer for all the afflicted in the pandemic.

Tom Ryan, CSP

Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org


Issue 74, Summer 2020

This Perilous Moment (PDF)
A statement from religious leaders and communities on the crisis of racial injustice and inequity amid the current protests.

U.S. Bishops in Wake of Death of George Floyd and National Protests
A statement issued by seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Racial Justice in the USA
A statement by the executive committee of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, expressing its support and Christian solidarity with all U.S. churches pursuing racial justice.

A Message of Faith and Hope
A message from an association of Christians and Jews at centers and institutes in the United States and Canada who are dedicated to teaching and promoting mutual understanding between our communities.

Calling for an Economy of Life in a Time of Pandemic
A joint statement by the World Council of Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, and the Council for World Mission on the coronavirus.


Resources to Keep It Growing

Resources for Responding to Racist Violence

Memorial Service video: The National Council of Churches held “a public online memorial service on Sunday, May 24, 2020 to mourn the more than 300,000 people worldwide who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 90,000 of whom were in the United States. The NCC is comprised of 38 member communions ranging from mainline Protestant to historic African American and Orthodox churches. Click here to watch a recording.

Interreligious Leadership Institute: This will be a virtual Institute, offered online by the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (CADEIO). Content: Presentations on Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and the Bahai faith, as well as on the dialogue of fraternity, new religions and movements, and contemporary trends of thought. Presentations and discussion daily from 1-4:30pm, Tuesday 7 July – Friday 10 July, and Monday 13 July – Friday 17 July.  The cost to participants is $250. To register, contact Fr. Don Rooney at [email protected].

 

A Message from Pope Francis

Dear brothers and sisters in the United States, I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr George Floyd. My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At the same time, we have to recognize that “the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost”. Today I join the Church in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and in the entire United States, in praying for the repose of the soul of George Floyd and of all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism. Let us pray for the consolation of their grieving families and friends and let us implore the national reconciliation and peace for which we yearn. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, intercede for all those who work for peace and justice in your land and throughout the world. (June 3).

Tom Ryan, CSP

Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org


Issue 73, Spring 2020
The Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Dialogue: A Sign of Hope for Christian Unity

Since the 5th century there’s been little communication between churches in the western world and the “family” of churches in the east known as Oriental Orthodox. Fr. Ronald Roberson shares what caused the division and what motivated the contemporary dialogue that is building new bridges of common understanding.

Evangelicals and Roman Catholic Spirituality
The interest in spiritual formation has increased within significant sub-cultures of evangelicalism. Seminary professor Dan Brunner reflects on how Catholic spirituality is impacting evangelicals because of a mounting interest in contemplative spirituality. He identifies 3 themes around which evangelical spirituality is drawing significantly from Catholic sources.

Monastic Interreligious Dialogue
Benedictine monk William Skudlarek shares how interreligious dialogue focuses on spiritual practice and experience rather than on questions of doctrine, and is grounded in the virtue and practice of hospitality. As Thomas Merton said. “I seek not only to learn more (quantitatively) about religion and about monastic life, but to become a better and more enlightened monk (qualitatively) myself. . . .” 

A Resource to Keep It Growing: Creative & Constructive Living in Time of Social Distancing

 

Finding the Positive in the Present Situation

Try putting your watch 
in the drawer.
You don’t have to 
sit down and eat now.
If you feel more tired
than hungry, lie down,
close your eyes and sleep.

Slip off your routine 
as you enter this space
and hang it on a hook
behind the door. 
The luxury of this time
is that there may be
no schedule here.   

Let the deeper desires arise.
Make it a retreat 
from the familiar routines
and an advance
to fresh possibilities
of living in a way 
both centered and free. 

Let us join our hearts in prayer for all the afflicted in the pandemic.

Tom Ryan, CSP

Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org


Issue 72, Winter 2020
Answering Jesus’ Prayer for Unity

E. Larry Beaumont was in close proximity to both the 1999 shootings in Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, and the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City. He shares how it has marked his life and made Jesus’ prayer for unity all the more a priority.

Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries and its Various Engagements
Executive Director Rodney Peterson shares how CMM has tackled pressing issues in Boston over the last 50 years in transformative partnerships marked by interfaith spirituality: Racial Justice, Values Over Violence, Interfaith Youth Initiative, Clergy and Laity for Affordable Housing, Boston Interfaith Bridges.

Promoting Non-violence through the Catholic Church
Judy Coode relates how Pax Christi International co-sponsored a conference on non-violence and peace in which participants from many war-torn countries came together to imagine a new framework for Catholic teaching on war and peace that could help the world move beyond repeated cycles of violence and war.

Resources To Keep It Growing

The National Workshop on Christian Unity, “To Welcome as Christ Welcomes,” March 23-26, Whitehall Hotel, Houston, TX. For more info/to register: nwcu.org

Summer Institute for Interreligious Leadership, July 8-14, Theological College at the Catholic University in Washington, DC, sponsored by the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers for both their own ongoing formation and that of those who work with them. 

54th International Ecumenical Seminar, “Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue: Similarities and Differences,” in Strasbourg, France. How can conflicts be overcome in the coexistence of different confessional families within one religion, or between different religions in one area? Is it possible to learn from the interreligious work of other religions to help in one’s own? Are the methods of dialogue and models of unity transferable? The Seminar will seek to pursue these questions and their solutions, as well as attempting to think in new ways. English and German are the main languages of the Seminar. For more info: strasbourginstitute.org. See also: Strasbourg  Institute newsletter.

A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living TogetherA relatively short and excellent resource for local groups’ reading and discussion, produced by Pope Francis and The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, during Francis’ visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2019. 

 

The Glacier

Once from a boat’s bow
I saw a giant crystal,
wide as the city-limits
and high as a ski hill,
it’s turquoise pallor 
striated with dark veins, 
a vast field of fairy-chimneys
in fantastic formations of ice
–here an upward thrust 
of praying hands, there
a matterhorn-shaped minaret–
the whole of it a picture 
of permanence.
Then suddenly sonic cracks 
catalyze crystalline towers
tumbling them headlong into the sea, 
bespeckling the agitated bay
with pulverized pinnacles, and 
quickly revealing the vulnerability
of all things fixed and frozen.  

 

Blessings to you and our climate in the coming year!   

Tom Ryan, CSP

Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org


Issue 71, Fall 2019
10th World Assembly of Religions for Peace:
A Story of Hospitality, Compassion, and Collaboration

900 religious representatives from over 125 countries participated in the 10th World Assembly of Religions for Peace held August 20 to 23 in Germany on the theme of Caring for Our Common Future: Advancing Shared Well-Being. Tarunjit Singh Butalia shares some experiences that took his breath away.

Grandchamp: A Women’s Monastic Community Born of the Reform 
and with an Ecumenical Vocation

When people hear of a woman’s monastic community they generally presume that it’s Catholic or Orthodox. In Switzerland, however, there is a monastic community—Grandchamp—founded by women from Reform church traditions. Tom Ryan shares more about this community, now considered a “sister community” to Taize’.

Engaging Boston: Breaking Barriers Through Public Worship
The growing, grassroots ecumenical network UniteBoston began with small events like shared neighborhood meals. But its co-founder Kelly Fassett is finding that organizing large gatherings such as an outdoor summer worship celebration can also be a catalytic opportunity for cultivating inter-Christian relationships. 

Drawing Inspiration from the Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministry of Paulist Thomas Stransky
Ecumenical pioneer and leader Fr. Thomas Stransky, CSP, entered into eternal life on September 3, his 89th birthday, leaving an inspiring legacy for those engaged in the work for Christian unity and positive interreligious relations. Ron Roberson and John Borelli provide an overview of his life and work. 

Resources To Keep It Growing

The North American Academy of Ecumenists will gather September 27-29 at Sign of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, 750 St-Joseph Street East, Montreal, Quebec. The theme of this year’s gathering is “Towards a new Détente: Ecumenical Outreach and Interfaith Dialogue in an Age of Uncertainty.” Registration and lodging info:  www.naae.com

Christian Churches Together 2019 Annual ConvocationCatholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Orthodox, African-American and Protestant Christian Communions & organizations in the U.S. witnessing together to the reconciling power of the Gospel of Jesus. Conference theme: “Confronting the Historic Root of Racism” that is still entrenched today. October 2-4, Embassy Suites Hotel – Montgomery, AL  For more info: christianchurchestogether.org/

Kairos 2019 – “That the World May Believe” (Jn 17.21) United in Christ International invites you to join in this historic event as believers and churches from many denominations come together to promote reconciliation in the body of Christ. Oct 3-5, Christ for the Nations Institute, Dallas, TX. For more info: kairos2019.com/

 

                         Autumn

O but to live in the Fall festival of color
with luminous expression 
and phosphorescent bursts of being!

To flow with the energy of one’s calling
like the glaciers of gold and orange 
that swirl down mountain valleys. 

To exude a joy in living 
like a grove of yellow aspen exploding
in a mushrooming cloud of radiant light.

To rejoice in the diversity of peoples and cultures
as in the painter’s pallet of colors
generously splotched on the hillsides. 

 

A blessed Autumn to you!

Tom Ryan, CSP

Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org


Issue 70, Spring 2019

Evangelical–Catholic Podcast Series
Neighborly Faith, an organization of Evangelical Christians, recently released in partnership with Glenmary Home Missioners a six-episode audio podcast series entitled: “Divided We Stand: Evangelicals and Catholics Search for Common Ground.” Ecumenism is not a rejection of difference, but an embrace of diversity.

Catholic–Muslim National Dialogue 
In their fourth annual meeting, the dialogue participants considered and discussed various programs and projects that could promote a culture of encounter and fraternity by establishing and nurturing dialogue, striving for cooperation,  and working towards mutual understanding of one another’s beliefs and practices.

Invitation to The Initiative: A Community for Ecumenism
A new multi-generational, multi-ethnic and trans-denominational community of Christian men and women from all across North America is being born. The process: to share stories of grace and reconciliation and to build friendships that can heal our differences. John Armstrong invites you to come and learn.

Kindness and Civility in Society

We’re presently living in a polarized political setting. Two theology professors, Shawn Copeland and Cathleeen Kaveny, share their reflections.  What qualities would you say need to be raised up for us to help us become people who engage with others in the public square? A conversation about civility and kindness.

Resources To Keep It Growing

 An International Ecumenical Seminar will take place from July 3-10, 2019 in Strasbourg, France, on the topic of  “Doctrine divides – Spirituality unites?” Learn more at strasbourginstitute.org 

Interreligious Leadership Institute: The Institute, offered by the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (CADEIO) is open to ecumenical and interreligious officers, commission members, diocesan leaders, members of religious orders, seminarians, theology students and interested laity. July 29-August 4, Theological College at Catholic University, Washington, DC. For more info and to register, visit cadeio.org

The North American Academy of Ecumenists will gather September 20-22 at Villa St. Martin in Montreal, Quebec. More info will be available in the coming months at naae.com

 

         Eternal Spring 

Behold the great awakening
and resurrection in the spring
as daffodils and lilies raise
trumpet-shaped bloom in silent praise-
their sacred blessing in the air
sent forth like a renewing prayer.
 
How wonderful these signs of God,
emerging from the shapeless sod,
to witness: tombs cannot confine
the splendor of Life’s grand design.
In every budding rose I see
a blush of immortality!

      Norman V. Olsson

 

A blessed Easter season to you! 

Tom Ryan, CSP

Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org 


Issue 69, Winter 2019

The Ecumenical Commitment of a Catholic Women’s Religious Community
As her community prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Sr. Jean Marie Holup shares the variety of ways the Congregation of the Sisters of Saints Cyril & Methodius has promoted cooperation, better understanding, and closer relationships among people in the different Christian denominations. 

We Need One Another
Reflection on his Evangelical background leads Gordon Smith to ask: What can we learn from the other?  Where and in what ways might there be wisdom that has been “housed” within another church tradition or spiritual heritage that might be wisdom for our day and that could, indeed, be invaluable for us?

Constantinople and Moscow: At Loggerheads Over Ukraine
A major schism is taking place between the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Russian Orthodox Church.  Ron Roberson provides insight into the historic background of this development and its implications for relations both within the Orthodox Church and its ecumenical relations. 

Resources to Keep it Growing

The 2019 National Workshop on Christian Unity will take place in St. Louis, MO, April 1-4. The Workshop continues to be the only gathering in the world of its kind at a national level, bringing together ecumenical representatives and interested members from all churches. The workshop includes a rich program of plenaries and seminars, off-site tours, and opportunities to join together in prayer. www.nwcu.org

An International Ecumenical Seminar will take place from July 3-10, 2019 in Strasbourgh, France, on the topic of  “Doctrine divides – Spirituality unites?” More at strasbourginstitute.org 

The North American Academy of Ecumenists will gather September 27-29, 2019 at The Sign of the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Montreal, Quebec. The theme of the conference is “Towards a New Détente: Ecumenical Outreach and Interfaith Dialogue in an Age of Uncertainty.” Consult naae.net in the Spring for lodging and other details. 

Gospel Call: A Congregational Renewal Event:
Gospel Call, a faith renewal event bringing Christians together for worship, community, and mission, is a Sunday to Wednesday parish mission with an ecumenical spin. Instead of just one preacher, there are two (a Catholic, Thomas Ryan, CSP, and a Protestant, John Armstrong) and the co-sponsoring congregations in a neighborhood/area take turns hosting the various events. For more info, see tomryancsp.org, click here, call 617-948-2406, or write [email protected]

 

Spiritual Freedom

I want to be like
that rooster
made of metal
standing alert on one leg
atop a pinnacled roof
stopping between engagements
looking and listening
equipoised
to move in the direction
the breath of God
next blows.

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org 


Issue 68, Fall 2018

The 2018 World Parliament of Religions
Over 7,500 people from 80 countries came together November 1-7 for the 7th  assembly of the World Parliament of Religions, held this time in Toronto, Canada, under the theme of ” The Promise of Inclusion and the Power of Love.”

Ecumenism on the Road 
Kelly Fassett shares about the grassroots initiatives being taken by UniteBoston to bring Christians of different traditions together in enriching, enjoyable, and energizing ways. Draw some inspiration for what you might do in your own home context. 

Multi-Denominational Congregations in the U.S. and Canada
Thomas Ryan reports on this Fall’s gathering of the North American Academy of Ecumenists at which three authors shared their research and experience with respect to a growing trend among Christians: churches sharing in prayer, ministry, and mission. 

Resources to Keep it Growing

The theme for the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, 2019 is “Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue,” chosen by representatives in Indonesia from Deut 16:20, with texts finalized during a meeting of the International Committee of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Week of Prayer materials can be obtained online.

The 2019 National Workshop on Christian Unity will take place in St. Louis, MO, April 1-4. The Workshop continues to be the only gathering of its kind at a national level in the world, bringing together ecumenical representatives and interested members from all churches. The workshop includes a rich program of plenaries and seminars, off-site tours, and opportunities to join together in prayer.

An International Ecumenical Seminar will take place from July 3-10, 2019 in Strasbourgh, France, on the topic of  “Doctrine divides – Spirituality unites?” Learn more at the Strasbourgh Ecumenical Institute’s homepage:  www.strasbourginstitute.org 

Gospel Call: A Congregational Renewal EventGospel Call, a faith renewal event bringing Christians together for worship, community, and mission, is a Sunday to Wednesday parish mission with an ecumenical spin. Instead of just one preacher, there are two (a Catholic, Thomas Ryan,CSP, and a Protestant, John Armstrong) and the co-sponsoring congregations in a neighborhood/area take turns hosting the various events. For more info, click here, call 617-948-2406 or write [email protected]

Paulist Pilgrimages – The Footsteps of Jesus: The Holy Land, March 30-April 10, 2019: Experience the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in new and powerful ways. Paulist Pilgrimages specializes in offering journeys around the world that are: Spiritual – speaking to the heart and soul of the traveler; Cultural – exploring unique places beyond the tourist trail; and Historical –offering a broad perspective of the land and its people. 

 

An Autumn Blessing

Blessed are you, autumn, 
season of so much bounty.
You invite us to imitate your generosity
in giving freely from the goodness of our lives,
holding nothing back.

Blessed are you, autumn, 
season of unpredictability. 
You inspire us to be flexible and
to learn from our shifting moods.

Blessed are you autumn,
feast of Thanksgiving.
You change our hearts 
into fountains of gratitude
as we receive your gracious gifts. 

Joyce Rupp

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
tomryancsp.org 


Issue 67, Summer 2018
The Birthing of a New Community for Unity in the Mission of Jesus
John Armstrong shares the story of his calling to the mission of Christian unity, his service to it over the last 27 years, and the new birth of The Initiative.
Orthodox and Catholics: Sister Churches?
Ronald Roberson provides an overview of the recent Orientale Lumen Conference which addressed the question: What language is it appropriate for Catholics and Orthodox to use in describing their relationships with one another?
Book Review: The Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams
A Buddhist and Christian leader share their reflections on the nature of true joy, the obstacles to joy, eight pillars of joy, and practices to cultivate joy.
Resources to Keep it Growing

North American Academy of Ecumenists Annual Conference, Sept. 28-30, on the theme of “Living Unity: Ecumenical Shared Ministries,” at the Crystal City Hilton in Arlington, VA, next to Reagan National Airport. Ground shuttle transportation available. For conference registration and lodging, visit naae.net.

The World Week of Peace, Sept 16-23. All people of good will are called to participate in the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel. This year’s theme is “Youth and Children: Raising Hope and Making Change”. During this week organizations, congregations, and people of faith are encouraged to bear a common witness by participating in worship services, educational events, and acts of support in favor of a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis.

Christian Churches Together annual convocation, from 2pm on October 3 to 1pm on October 5, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kansas. Central theme: “Let’s Talk about Life”. Catholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Protestant, Orthodox, and Historic Black Church members will come together to listen to and understand better the different traditions’ perspectives on issues of life that often divide us. The topics of systemic racism and the convergence of poverty and racism will be part of the conversation. Official representatives of the communions, organizations, and observers can register by clicking this link. Registration deadline is Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

Walking Together on the Way: Learning to Be the Church—Local, Regional, Universal– An Agreed Statement of the Third Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC III)

Gospel Call: A Congregational Renewal Event: Gospel Call, a faith renewal event bringing Christians together for worship, community, and mission, is a Sunday to Wednesday parish mission with an ecumenical spin. Instead of just one preacher, there are two (a Catholic, Thomas Ryan, CSP, and a Protestant, John Armstrong) and the co-sponsoring congregations in a neighborhood/area take turns hosting the various events. For more info, click here, call 617-948-2406 or write [email protected].

Paulist Pilgrimages – The Footsteps of Jesus: The Holy Land, March 30-April 10, 2019: Experience the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in new and powerful ways. Paulist Pilgrimages specializes in offering journeys around the world that are: Spiritual – speaking to the heart and soul of the traveler; Cultural – exploring unique places beyond the tourist trail; and Historical – offering a broad perspective of the land and its people.

Keeping the Faith at College: Resource Guide For Religious And Spiritual Students: a user-friendly resource that cites on-campus organizations and resources; the Top 10 Challenges religious students face in college; and a breakdown of religious and spiritual demographics in college.

Multiculturalism and Diversity on the College Campus: Resources and Information on Fostering and Maintaining an Inclusive Environment: a series of guides designed to highlight the many educational, financial and social opportunities available to today’s postsecondary students.

UniteBoston’s summer worship night on Thursday August 16th from 7:00 to 9:00pm in the Parkman Bandstand in Boston Common. The goal is to create a unique worship environment for all to come together and experience the love of Jesus.

Summer

It can happen in any season but the heart
has a better chance of opening to life
in the longer, warmer light of summer,
in the street musician’s free concert by the curb
and in exploding fireworks against a starry sky.

The discovery of the leisurely, relaxed step
and the comfort of friendly words with neighbors
comes with turning over garden dirt,
watering the flowers and tomatoes,
sharing apples, cucumbers, and corn on the cob.

It could happen in November or December,
but the opening of the heart to life is given
broader berth amidst beach-time banter
or with the music floating out the window
and the children catching fire-flies in the yard.

The blessings of summer to you!

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
617-948-2406
[email protected]
www.tomryancsp.org

 

Issue 66, Spring 2018
One God, One Humanity: Confronting Religious Prejudice
Ever wonder what a Muslim-Christian dialogue might “sound” like? Tom Ryan gives you an opportunity to “eaves-drop” on the exchanges at the recent March 6-8 national Catholic-Muslim Dialogue at Mundelein Seminary outside Chicago.
A Journey with the Qur’an and the Bible
Muslim educator Maria Khani shares her grass roots initiatives to build relationships between local Muslim and Christian communities through joint scripture study and sharing of faith, food, and spiritual practice.
Many Streams, One River
Jacob Urena had never attended an Eastern Orthodox liturgy before, and relates how his participation in their Good Friday Service not only touched and enriched him, but was a life-changing experience.
Resources to Keep it Growing
 

National Workshop on Christian Unity, Apr. 16-19, Silver Spring, MD. www.nwcu.org The Workshop is the only gathering of its kind at a national level in the world. It brings together ecumenical representatives, ecumenists, and interested members from all churches. To register: http://nwcu.org/2018-registration/

Introductory Ecumenical Leadership Institute, July 23-July 27, at the Washington (D.C.) Theological College at Catholic University. The Institute, sponsored by the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (CADEIO), is open to ecumenical and interreligious officers, commission members, diocesan leaders, members of religious orders, seminarians, theology students and interested laity. For more info or to register:  http://cadeio.org

North American Academy of Ecumenists Annual Meeting, Sept. 28-30, on the theme of “Living Unity: Ecumenical Shared Ministries,” at the Crystal City Hilton, Washington, DC., next to Reagan National Airport. Ground shuttle transportation available. To register: http://naae.net 

Awakening Your Mystical Heart: Making Direct Contact with the Spirit Within – a day-long workshop with Fr. Tom Ryan on the contemplative tradition within Christianity and the practice of Christian meditation today, April 23, at the New York Open Center. Register on the website or call 212-219-2527, ext 2. 

Paulist Pilgrimage: The Saints of England, June 3-14 – visit the major religious, historical and cultural sites of England

March for Our Lives: Some photos of signage among the 50,000 Boston student-led marchers for gun control that capture the values and motivations that brought them out onto the streets on March 24 in union with others around the country.

 

The Shroud

Faint as an old tintype the image
hovers, masking an outrageous light
from the wild darkness of the Godhead,
the ravenous wings of Easter that will stoop
on death scurrying like a spider,
shake the flowers out,
and tumble sparrows in a well of singing–

until at last we open and the garden going in
green robes seizes us with laughter
bright and terrible, blowing loose our hearts,
like the Mary shaken from her cloud
to the enormous gaiety of light
and the whole spontaneous flesh
now and forever loved in its first being.

Robert Siegel

 

A joyous Easter to you!  

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
 
 
 
Issue 65, Winter 2018

The first three articles below provide a summary of weekly talks in January 2018 at an adult discipleship course entitled “Unity–or Disunity–in the Church:  How Can We Be One?” The series was sponsored by Grace Chapel, Lexington, MA, and directed by Valerie Pietry, in collaboration with Pastor Dana Baker (Social Justice and Multicultural Ministry) and Pastor Doug Whallon (Discipleship) at Grace Chapel.

 

The Glory of the Nations and the Challenge of Christian Unity
Tim Castner provides insight into the various factors—cultural, ethnic, linguistic, doctrinal—that have contributed over the centuries to the multiplication of different denominations within Christianity.
Scriptural Teaching on Christian Unity
What does the Bible say about Christian unity? Why has it been so hard to live out in the Christian church? Scott Brill provides an overview of key biblical passages, noting that the record of conflict goes way back, with the challenge being essentially one of holding together truth and fellowship.
Discovering the Gold: Mutual Recognition in the Body of Christ
An ecumenism of mutual recognition depends on our ability to receive from one another. Kelly Steinhaus presents five key attitudes we need to cultivate within ourselves as we venture outside of our comfort zones to discover Christ in each another.
Spiritual Ecumenism
Tom Ryan unveils the multi-layered meaning of “spiritual ecumenism” and witnesses to how the time spent together in faith sharing and prayer, plus the spiritual gifts exchanged, transform peoples’ perceptions of one another and enrich their lives in concrete and lasting ways.
Resources to Keep it Growing 

 

National Workshop on Christian Unity, April 16-19, Silver Spring, MD www.nwcu.org The Workshop is the only gathering of its kind at a national level in the world. It brings together ecumenical representatives, ecumenists, and interested members from all churches. To register: nwcu.org/2018-registration/

Introductory Ecumenical Leadership Institute, July 23-July 27, at the Washington (D.C.) Theological College at Catholic University. The Institute, sponsored by the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (CADEIO), is open to ecumenical and interreligious officers, commission members, diocesan leaders, members of religious orders, seminarians, theology students and interested laity. For more info or to register: cadeio.org

New book: Finding Jesus Among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes Me a Better Catholic, by Jordan Denari Duffner (Liturgical Press)
Drawing from church teaching, the stories of saints and martyrs, and her extensive personal experiences living among Muslims in both the United States and the Middle East, Jordan addresses these questions and explains why all Christians are to participate in a “dialogue of life” with Muslims.

Interfaith Education: Meditation and Contemplative Studies Certificate Training, at the New York Open Center, 212-219-2527 ext 2.

Paulist Pilgrimage: The Saints of England, June 3-14 – visit the major religious, historical and cultural sites of England

Gratitude

Gratitude is a dozen red roses in winter,
an inner fullness that expands the lungs
and erases words from the mind.
It is the secret combination
that unclicks the locket of the heart
and opens the soul in readiness
to lay down one’s life in small pieces.

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
Issue 64, Fall 2017

 

The Reformation Anniversary: Personal Reflections
Thomas Best reflects on a recent exhibition in Berlin exploring the roots and results of the Reformation and its expansion and inculturation into different countries with remarkable diversity in both theology and ecclesiology, which the ecumenical movement has given us the chance to confront head on in a spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding rather than bitter contention.
A Luther Pilgrimage Report
John Power gives you a “feel” for the major sites, shares how his appreciation of Luther and his colleagues was enhanced by a recent ecumenical pilgrimage to historic sites where they lived and worked, and observes how Luther is central to German identity, with the Reformation seen as the single most important event in German history.
A Seat at the Table: An Inspirational Interfaith Experience
Timothy Sullivan, CSP, describes “A Seat at the Table” evening in his parish which brings together people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds for a dinner followed by an opportunity for heartfelt sharing and dialogue to help participants better understand the life experience of their neighbors and live together in harmony.
Resources to Keep it Growing 

Kairos 2017 United in Christ, “Unity + Revival,” Oct. 24-26, Kansas City, MO. A historic meeting of Christian leaders across various streams will gather in answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 to pray and network with other members of the Body of Christ. More info/To register: www.Kairos2017.com

Christian Unity Gathering, Nov. 8-10 in Washington, DC, sponsored by the National Council of Churches on the theme of “Resilence, Resistance, and Persistence” to help equip for the long journey ahead. More info/To register: nationalcouncilofchurches.us/cug/register/

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25, 2018, to obtain posters, bulletin announcements, religious education materials, prayer cards, thematic music, go to: geii.org

National Workshop on Christian Unity, Apr. 16-19, Silver Spring, MD

Interfaith Dialogue Educational Resources – free online The Scarboro Missions Interfaith department in Toronto, ON, is happy to share with you this abundance of resources which can be downloaded and printed free of charge:

1) Principles and guidelines for interfaith dialogue:  This compendium of concise and handy resources provides insight into the interfaith movement and its treasure chest of wisdom and learning opportunities. This collection explores the goals, types and stages of dialogue and touches on issues such as interfaith etiquette, listening, peace-building, hospitality, respectful presence and dialogue-versus-debate. These principles and guidelines are useful for those who are new to interfaith as well as for veterans of interfaith work.

2) Interfaith curriculum and educational resources: Includes online courses, toolkits, best practices, do-it-yourself workshops, activities, multifaith prayer services, how-to-manuals, guidelines, games, starter kits, meditations, slideshows, etc.

3) Golden Rule education resources: This comprehensive listing features interactive resources, meditation exercises, videos, multilingual posters, art activities, do-it-yourself workshops, slide programs, discussion questions, Golden Rule websites, books, toolkits, best practices, and school & youth group curricula.

Please consider forwarding this announcement to colleagues and friends and posting it on websites and social media.

In this tumultuous period of tornadoes and earthquakes, hurricanes, forest fires, and political tensions, a fitting poem:

Lead, Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

So long thy power hast blessed me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those Angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

– John Henry Newman

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
 
Issue 63, Spring 2017

 

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation: A Year of Unparalleled Opportunity
This anniversary is an occasion to receive the fruits of 50 years of dialogue. To see our relationships with one another in a new light. To discern the presence and action of God’s Spirit in each other’s communities. The time has come, says Tom Ryan, for a purification and healing of memories, and for the restoration of Christian unity in accord with the gospel.
The Mundelein Encounter: A Catholic-Evangelical Model of Ecumenism
John Armstrong describes a recently established Catholic-Evangelical Conversation whose aim through witness, study, and prayer is to clear away misunderstanding that impedes cooperation in mission and common witness. The Conversation seeks to strengthen the ties of our baptism through intentional relationship with other Christians marked by listening, respect, worship and hospitality.
Book Review: Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal: Why the Church Should Be All Three, by Gordon T. Smith (InterVarsity Press, 2017)
The church is meant to be a community of Spirit, Word, and sacrament. If we prioritize one of these and neglect the other two, we risk severing the main arteries that supply divine life to the church and the nourishment required for a healthy spirituality.
Resources to Keep it Growing 

Program in Ecumenical Studies and Formation is an accredited three-year program, dedicated to forming Christians in the theology, history and practice of ecumenism with the churches of Canada and the U.S. The intended audience of this program includes ecumenical officers; people in training for ministry; ministry practitioners whose work is located within an ecumenical setting; and lay people who wish to increase their knowledge of the ecumenical movement for greater participation. The program assumes no prior theological training and will be offered each year in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, during the final week of June. Students who complete all three years will receive a certificate in Ecumenical Studies and Formation from St. Andrew’s College and the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. 2017 Theme: Baptism & Eucharist. Scholars: Fr. Tom Ryan and Natasha Klukach . For more info contact [email protected]

An Ecumenical Conference for Clergy and Laity on the theme of “Repentance and Forgiveness,” sponsored by the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, June 5-7, 2017, Monday evening – Wednesday noon Loyola University, Baltimore, Md.

International Ecumenical Seminar, July 3-10, 2017, in Strasbourg, France, on the topic of “Reformation Identity in Ecumenical Perspective.”

The North American Academy of Ecumenists, September 22-24, 2017 at the Connors Conference Center, Boston College, 20 Glen St, Dover, MA., on the theme: “Worship in Ecumenical Contexts: A Once and Future Vision / What Have We Learned? What are our Limits and Future Possibilities?” For registration info: www.naae.net

Ancient and Holy in Greece – a pilgrimage tour of the classical, byzantine and monastic centers of mainland Greece. September 24-October 7, 2017. An opportunity to experience the earliest Christian communities established by the Apostles in Corinth, Phillipi, Veria and venerate the relics of saints such as St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Demetrius, St. Gregory Palamas.

The 4th International Conference on Receptive Ecumenism, November 6-9, 2017,. Canberra, Australia. Theme: “Leaning into the Spirit: Discernment, Decision-making, and Reception.”

The Women of Mark 16:8

“He is risen! He is not here!”
we heard—and fled
from the empty tomb,
our lips sealed by fear,
to cower in the upper room.

The Good News stayed dead
until, fed by the power of Bread
broken, we arose from our dread
and the Good News was spoken.

Irene Zimmerman

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
 
Issue 62, Winter 2017

 

Keep the Fire Burning
There have been various allusions over the past decade to the ecumenical movement losing some of its heat and light. Tom Ryan shares invigorating events during the recent Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Boston that remind us all it’s both possible and necessary to throw new logs on the fire.
Catholic-Orthodox Relations: Two New Developments
Ronald Roberson reports on two developments that show the evolving nature of Catholic-Orthodox relations today: the increasing ability of the Orthodox to speak with a single voice, and growing understanding between us of the way our churches related to each other in the period before our division.
Liturgical Dance: Illuminating the Incarnational Nature of Our Faith
The intent of liturgical dance, writes Christine Tardiff, is to enhance, support, and illumine the natural movement of the liturgical action. The minister of dance “speaks” for us all, just as the presider, lector, or cantor “speaks” for the entire assembly at certain points. And for its practitioners, it can be a rich form of religious education.
Resources to Keep it Growing 

National Workshop on Christian Unity, May 1-4, Hilton Hotel, Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN. For more registration information, see www.nwcu.org

An Ecumenical Conference for Clergy and Laity on the theme of “Repentance and Forgiveness,” sponsored by the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, June 5-7, 2017, Monday evening – Wednesday noon Loyola University, Baltimore, Md.

International Ecumenical Seminar,July 3-10, 2017, in Strasbourg, France, on the topic of “Reformation Identity in Ecumenical Perspective.”
 
Rev. Alfred Baca named New Executive Director for USCCB Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Department

“100 Days of Justice”— an online sharing of timely information and useful resources with faith leaders who want to elevate issues of justice, compassion and the common good during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. On this site, you’ll find meaningful reflections, calls to action, prayers, sermon materials, training opportunities and other resources from leaders of diverse religious, racial, and cultural backgrounds that will enable you to guide your communities during these trying times.

Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, on the Executive Order on Refugees and Migrants

Statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Office

USCCB Chairmen Express Solidarity with Muslim Community, Deep Concern over Religious Freedom Issues, in Response to Executive Order on Refugees

 

But yield who will to their separation,
My object in living is to unite
My avocation and vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are one,
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the Future’s sakes.
                        Robert Frost

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108
 
 
Issue 61, Fall 2016
Deacon Gary Harmeyer, Episcopal priest Father Alan Mead, Catholic priest Father Rene CastilloHoly Apostles: The Story of a Catholic and Episcopalian Joint Parish
The Church’s mission for unity finds a variety of expressions, but few as visionary as a joint parish. Episcopalian co-pastor Fr. Alan Mead relates the history and daily life within Holy Apostles. “Many verbally promote ecumenism, but we live it every day, and in everything we do.
reformation-393x275Commemorating the Reformation:
Churches Looking Together Toward 2017–and Beyond

Thomas Ryan offers a window into the recent North American Academy of Ecumenists meeting. In the 15th century there was a Protestant trajectory and a conflicting Roman Catholic trajectory. But in the last 50 years of Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue, Luther has ceased to be an immoral character, and a theologian who brought some needed reforms in the Church.
Deacon Gary Harmeyer, Episcopal priest Father Alan Mead, Catholic priest Father Rene CastilloCatholic Colleges and Universities and Interreligious Relations
Interreligious understanding in this time of crisis, writes Georgetown U professor Leo Lefebure, is one of the most important imperatives facing Catholic educators. But the present time also offers new possibilities in interreligious relations with opportunities for greater understanding and depth than ever before.

 

Resources to Keep it Growing 

2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Theme: Reconciliation. The Love of Christ Compels Us (2 Cor 5:14-20) Materials available: Ecumenical prayer service; scriptural commentary on theme; homiletic notes; daily scriptures and prayers; selection of thematic music; prayer cards and posters. To order: www.geii.org Traditional but transferable dates: January 18-25.

Resources for use at locals levels in lead-up events to 500th Anniversary of Protestant Reformation: From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017. The international Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity’s latest report is the first attempt by both dialogue partners to describe together at an international level the history of the Reformation and its intentions. “We invite all Christians to study the report of our Commission both open-mindedly and critically, and to come with us along the way to a deeper communion of all Christians.”

A Study Guide: From Conflict to Communion. “The study guide is designed to increase mutual understanding between Catholics, Lutherans, and other Christians. It is a catalyst for healing and reconciliation both communally and individually. . . . The goal of our mutual commemoration must include remembering our history and continuing our movement toward the unity that Christ wills for his followers.” It is distributed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in booklet form, and is available online.

Common Prayer: Lutheran–Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017 – The Lutheran World Federation and The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity have jointly developed a communal liturgical guide entitled Common Prayer to mark the 500 years of the Reformation in 2017. Based on the recent study report From Conflict to Communion, the Common Prayer is structured around the themes of thanksgiving, repentance and commitment to common witness and includes materials that can be adapted to local liturgical and musical traditions. This 20 page resource is available here in both English and Spanish.

DVD – “This Changed Everything: 500 Years of the Reformation.” A two-disc DVD This Changed Everything: 500 Years of the Reformation is now available. The two-disc set features all three episodes of TCE plus hours of bonus material including extended interviews with the experts and virtual video tours of key Reformation sites. The DVD also comes with a coupon enabling you to stream or download the HD digital version of TCE for free.

Interfaith & Faith – Canada’s 150th anniversary – 2017. Faith in Canada 150 is a growing, multi-faith movement of organizations that is connecting and convening thousands of local leaders and organizations as Canada celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017. You can get involved. We exist to help resource your work. Because of your interfaith work, we would like to invite you to get acquainted with our initiatives and join us at no charge by signing up at the Faith in Canada 150 website. For more information or to get connected, call Faith Alliance Coordinator in Hamilton, Stephen Lazarus at 905-528-8866 ext. 138 or go to http://www.faithincanada150.ca/initiatives/faithalliance.

“Our Evangelical Neighbours – A Catholic Reflection on Evangelical Christianity. A product of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Commission on Christian Unity, this resource provides Catholics an introduction to Evangelical Christianity by exploring the origins of Evangelical Christianity and its similarities and differences to Catholicism. The resource was developed in close collaboration with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC).

Study pilgrimage to India, February 9 – March 2, 2017. Join Thomas Kane of the Paulist Fathers for a special study-pilgrimage–“The Spirit of India”—to explore the spiritual traditions of North and South India. Participants will visit temples, learn of various spiritual traditions and experience the integration of Christianity in cultural contexts where it is a minority among different world religions. Sites include New Delhi, Varanasi, The Taj, Jaipur, Goa and Kerala. Limited to sixteen participants. For itinerary and registration form, see paulist.org/pilgrimages.

National Workshop on Christian Unity, May 1-4, Minneapolis, MN

An inspiring article on how Muslims, Jews, and Christians in a residential enclave in Montreal came to set up a donation center for Syrian refugees and are working together to provide clothing, dishes, school supplies, and toys.

 

Beyond Me

Almost everything is beyond me:
the inner workings of a combustion engine,
the DNA helix,
the orbiting of planets,
how gravity and grace work.

Is there anything that I truly comprehend?
Anything that is not beyond me?

One thing alone,
one thing I understand:
the kindness behind being given
a cup of water,
a word of affirmation,
a smile across a subway aisle.

Robert Morneau

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108

 

 

Issue 60, Summer 2016
  • Ecumenism in Service of Evangelization . . . Not a Question for Many
    In the face of shrinking religious communities today, Michael McGarry proposes that the churches should be working together to reach out to non-church-going Millennials, and that this harmonizing of ecumenism with evangelization represents a currently more important focus than the traditional topics of the ecumenical dialogues.

  • UniteBoston: Recognizing the Family of God
    Noticing that there were so many great things happening around churches in Boston, but little infrastructure to connect the events that were taking place with the people that might be interested in attending, Kelly Steinhaus co-founded UniteBoston in 2010, encouraging people to  go beyond their denominational walls to discover all that God is doing in the city. 

  • The Reformation: The Differences Weren’t as Deep as We Thought
    As a backgrounder to upcoming events commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Thomas Ryan provides some perspectives on how the socio-political context of  the 16th c. made agreement more difficult, and how the Councils of Trent and Vatican II differed in their approaches to the controversial questions.

 

Resources to Keep it Growing 

North American Academy of Ecumenists, September 23-25, will be held near Atlanta, Georgia, at the Candlier School of Theology, Decatur, GA. Theme: “Commemorating the Reformation: Churches Looking Together Toward 2017 and Beyond.”  www.naae.net 


Gospel Call: A Congregational Renewal Event
 bringing Christians together for worship, community, and mission, is a parish mission with an ecumenical spin. Instead of just one preacher, there are two (a Catholic, Thomas Ryan, and a Protestant, John Armstrong) and the co-sponsoring congregations in a town/city/neighborhood take turns hosting the various events.  Available dates for 2017:  February 19-22; May 14-17; November 12-15. For more info, click here, or contact [email protected].


Catholics United with Protestants: On-line Education Program
 
Come to a deeper faith and understanding of your role in developing Christian unity with your community. Discover how you can help in the Church’s call for interdenominational unity. For Catholics and Protestants alike.

 

Blessed are you, nurturing season of summer,
your fruits and vegetables appear on our tables,
changing them into altars.
Tasting of your life, we are made strong. 

 

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108

 

 

Issue 59, Spring 2016
  • Two Faiths, One Friendship  
    We fear what we don’t know. It takes a lot of courage to recognize that we hold religious or cultural biases and to make a commitment to work on those biases through conversation and friendships. Michal, a Christian, and Sondos, a Muslim, share their story and how they’re helping others cross the line that divides.

  • Approaching the Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation: How Will You Participate?
    This is the first of five centenary observances of the Protestant Reformation to occur in an ecumenical era. Tom Ryan relates how a joint commemoration, both joyful and penitential, is in the offing, with lead-up events beginning on October 31, 2016.

  • How Can Christians Respond to Islamophobia?
    Creating an atmosphere of hospitality and solidarity with Muslims is especially important today. Jordan Denari offers four concrete, action-oriented ideas for encountering anti-Muslim prejudice. 

 

Resources to Keep it Growing 

Summer Ecumenical Leadership Institutes. The Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers is sponsoring two institutes which will take place at the Theological College, across the street from Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C. The Introductory Ecumenical Leadership Institute will take place from Sunday eve, May 22 to Thursday noon May 26, and the Advanced Ecumenical Leadership Institute from Sunday eve, June 5  to Thursday noon, June 9. For more information: www.cadeio.org or contact Fr. Don Rooney at 703-309-8719 or [email protected]


“The Emerging Christian Minority”
is the theme of  the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology’s annual Pro Ecclesia Conference for clergy and laity,  from 7pm Monday, June 6 through Wednesday, June 8 at Loyola University, Baltimore, MD.  For program and registration info, see www.e-ccet.org/conferences/


“Creation: Our Shared Inheritance,”
is the theme of the Orientale Lumen annual conference, June 21-24. www.olfoundation.net

 

North American Academy of Ecumenists, September 23-25, will meet near Atlanta, Georgia, at the Candlier School of Theology, Decatur, GA. Theme: “Commemorating the Reformation: Churches Looking Together Toward 2017 and Beyond.”  www.naae.net


Gospel Call: A Congregational Renewal Event
 bringing Christians together for worship, community, and mission, is a parish mission with an ecumenical spin. Instead of just one preacher, there are two (a Catholic, Thomas Ryan, and a Protestant, John Armstrong) and the co-sponsoring congregations in a town/city/neighborhood take turns hosting the various events. Next available dates: November 13-16, 2016. For more info, click here, or contact [email protected]


The 2017 National Workshop on Christian Unity
will take place May 1-4 in Minneapolis, MN. www.nwcu.org

 

Come, O Spirit of the Risen One

Come, clothe us with the colors of Spring.
Paint our fields and forests with your artist’s brush. 
Fill us with boundless energy and faithful hearts.
Celebrate with us the wonder of risen life. 

A joyous Easter season to you! By the end of May, this office will have a new address:

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Paulist Center
5 Park St
Boston, MA 02108

unity.paulist.org

Issue 58, Winter 2016
  • Faith Over Fear: Choosing Unity Over Extremism
    Recent events in our country and across our world are deeply troubling. Acts of violence or exclusion have threatened our trust in one another. Thomas Ryan reports on two events in the nation’s capital dedicated to expressing solidarity, understanding, and peace.

  • Reflections on Best Practices in Practical Ecumenism
    Julien Hammond distills his experience from planning many ecumenical and interreligious gatherings and reflects on measuring success, developing resilience, asking forgiveness, and loving one another.

  • Book Review – Christian Unity: How You Can Make a Difference
    In his review, Evangelical leader Gordon Smith describes how “this book is an accessible guide for pastors and lay leaders to how they can, within their communities and cities, actively pursue unity with Christians from other traditions.”

Resources to Keep It Growing
  • Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25. The theme, ”Called to Proclaim the Mighty Acts of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:9) highlights the relationship between baptism and proclamation/witness. For background and preparatory materials, prayer service and a daily scripture and prayer guide, click here.
  • 4th Annual De Margerie Series, January 21-24, Saskatoon, SK. The speaker will be Bishop Kenneth Kearon who served the Anglican Communion as Secretary General from 2004 to 2014 and was recently consecrated as the Anglican bishop of Limerick and Killaloe in Ireland. Keynote talk theme: “On Building an Ecumenical Barn.” Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, St Thomas More College and the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Events are open and free.
  • World Interfaith Harmony Week, February 1-7. Unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2010, WIHM Recognizes that the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions and beliefs call for peace, tolerance and mutual understanding.
  • An Interfaith Retreat Weekend, “The Wisdom of Aging with Grace: A Multifaith Exploration,” April 8-10, with Rabbi Rachel Cowan, Zen Buddhist teacher Norman Fischer, and Fr. Thomas Ryan, CSP, at the Garrison Institute, 14 Mary’s Way, Route 9D at Glenclyffe, Garrison, NY; garrisoninstitute.org; 845-424-4800. Download this flyer for more information.
  • National Workshop on Christian Unity, April 18-21, will be held in Louisville, KY.
  • Summer Ecumenical Leadership Institutes. The Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers is sponsoring two institutes which will take place at the Theological College, across the street from Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C. The Introductory Ecumenical Leadership Institute will take place May 22-26, and the Advanced Ecumenical Leadership Institute June 6-10. More information will soon be posted at www.cadeio.org
  • North American Academy of Ecumenists, September 23-25, will be held near Atlanta, Georgia, at the Candlier School of Theology, Decatur, GA. Theme: Commemorating the Reformation: Churches Looking Together Toward 2017.
  • The Ecumenical Movement: An Anthology of Key Texts and Voices – Included in this updated collection are the most widely influential texts produced by assemblies and consultations of the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical bodies, as well as statements by leading ecumenists, all carefully selected, edited, and introduced. “At this critical juncture,” says editor Michael Kinnamon, “this book brings together ‘texts and voices’ that reveal both the profound legacy of the ecumenical movement and the spiritual, theological basis on which it can build to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.” Print this flyer.

A Winter Blessing

Blessed are you winter,
you teach us valuable lessons
about waiting in darkness
with hope and trust.

Blessed are you winter,
frozen and cold on the outside,
within your silent, nurturing womb
you warmly welcome all that longs for renewal.

Joyce Rupp

Tom Ryan, CSP
Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
North American Paulist Center 
3015 Fourth Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20017-1102

Tel: 202-269-2511 
Fax: 202-269-2507

unity.paulist.org