November 21, 2004
Dear Clergy, Religious, and Lay Friends,
“Promoting the restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the chief concerns of the Second Sacred Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only.” Decree on Ecumenism, #1
Blessed Pope John XXIII reminded us that “What unites us is much greater than what divides us.”
For the 25th anniversary of the Decree on Ecumenism your diocesan Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs published a document called “Rooted in Faith”. For the 40th anniversary we are publishing “Rooted in Faith II”. This attached document includes:
- Ecumenical/Interfaith Celebrations: times to get together
- Ecumenical/Interfaith Activities: things to do together·
- Ecumenical/Interfaith Etiquette: ways to behave together
For “Spring Enrichment” 2005, the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and the Ecumenical Office will collaborate on a resource for parish catechetical programs regarding ecumenism and interfaith activities.
It is our hope and prayer that these resources will assist those in parish ministry to bring the official theological dialogues among the various ecumenical and interfaith bodies to the “grassroots” level in our parishes throughout the diocese.
In the words of our bishop: “…for the clarity of their witness and the effectiveness of their service, in the area of social ministry, parishes should collaborate on an ecumenical or interfaith basis.” We Are God’s Priestly People
In his encyclical, “On Commitment to Ecumenism,” Pope John Paul II wrote: “…ecumenism, the movement promoting Christian unity is not just some sort of ‘appendix’ which is added to the Church’s traditional activity. Rather, ecumenism is an organic part of her life and work, and consequently must pervade all that she is and does….” Ut Unum Sint, #20
