ECUMENICAL BULLETIN

ISSUED BY THE ECUMENICAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF , 406 ALBERT ST., EAST MELBOURNE. 3002. TEL. (03) 662 1962 REGISTERED BY POST- PUBLICATION No. VAR. 90 7937 No.26,June, 1992

CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE Since the early 1970's most Churches throughout the world have been involved in serious discussion with each other. Generally these discussions have involved two parties at a time - dialogues - because it is easier to work that way. Some of these dialogues have been at an international level, some nationally and some locally. At the international level most of us are familiar with the ARCIC discussion (Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission.) In Australia a number of formal discussions have taken place for some years. One of these is about to end one phase of its work and begin another. The Catholic and Uniting Churches have had a Working Group meeting twice or three times a year since the formation of the " Uniting Church in Australia in 1978''. The Group took over work that was being done between the Catholic Church and the Churches that came together to form the Uniting Church. The Working Group has been meeting in Melbourne and is co-chaired by Archbishop Little for the Catholic Church and Dr. Ian Breward for the Uniting Church. His predecessor was Dr. Davis McCaughey. The work of the Group will move to another State (Brisbane) in 1993 so as to involve another group of workers. The Group's first task was to discuss Baptism and a statement of Agreement was published in all Catholic and Uniting Church papers in 1979. It then produced another document "Make Straight His Way" which did not receive such wide publicity. It was a statement about some of the differences between our Churches in the past and what has been done and can continue to be done to overcome these differences. More recently the Group has been looking at Marriage and in 1990 published in the theological journal PACIFICA a document "Moving together on Marriage." This did not set out to give a comprehensive theological explanation of marriage but attempted to highlight what our Churches actually understand and teach about marriage. From this it can be seen how close our Churches are at times and also where they differ. To make this material more readily acceptable a summarized version of that document has heen produced in leaflet form. Also called "Moving together on Marriage" this leaflet will soon be available from this Office, in Churches, Marriage Counselling Offices and similar places. Rev. Fr. P.J. Kenny, E.Y. Ecumenical & Inter-faith Relations

Marriage has lasted well, despite divorce and changing social patterns. And more than half of all marriages now are celebrated in church services. The partners in many of them are from the Roman Catholic and Uniting Churches­ "mixed marriages". Our two churches believe marriage is a gift from God and want to encourage couples in their lifelong commitment to each other. We also face a number of issues and challenges. (Moving together on marriage- Roman Catholic Church & Uniting Church in Australia)

Across all our differences of thought, outlook and religious allegiance. Unite Us, 0 God, for Your greater glory, Gather together the separated Christians 0 God, For the triumph of goodness and truth, Gather together the separated Christians 0 God, that there may henceforth be one flock and one Shepherd, Gather together the separated Christians 0 God, to confound the pride of Satan and his assaults, Abbe' Couturier's Gather together the separated Christians PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY Across all our barriers of language, race and nationality, 0 God, that peace may reign in the world at last, Unite Us, Jesus. Gather together the separated Christians Across all our mutual ignorance, prejudices and hostility, 0 God for the greater joy of the Heart of Your Son, Unite Us, Jesus. Gather together the separated Christians On May 9 a group of Religious Education teachers and Inter-Faith Relations students took the opportunity of visiting four faith ce ntres "THE CATHOLIC CHURCH REJECTS NOTH ING OF around Melbo urne, and gained first hand inform ation of WHAT IS TRUE AND HOLY IN THESE RELIGIONS" the va ri ous aspects of each centre. (HI NDUI SM , BUDDHISM, ISLAM AND JUDAISM) - The to ur, wit h the support of E A C., was organised by Declarat ion of the Relat ion of the Chu rc h to No n- Chri stian Re v. Kim Cruikshank, assistant curate of the Holy Trinity Reli gion s (Vati ca n 28 / 10 /65) parish, Wi ll ia mstown, and Project Officer for the World Conference for Reli gion and Peace. T he Wo rl d Coun cil of Churches' subunit on Dialogue During the to ur, the group, whi ch included six Muslim wit h People of Living Fa iths women. visited St. Nicholas' Orthodox Chu rc h, Ea st and Ideologies was formed in Melbourn e, Buddhi st Te mple Sun shine, Preston Mosque and 197 1. A new office on In te r­ Temple Beth Israel, Caul fiel d. All agreed it was a most reli gious Re lat ions has been worthwhile day and it is pl anned to hold a simil ar tour formed with the hope it will in third term . he lp churc hes to relate their In Ma rch, Mos lem s and Christ ians got together at the concerns to the whole huma n Prestion Mosque to annou nce the start of Ramadan, Lent fami ly. and the World Day of Prayer. "Lent and Ramadan had a lot in common - they we re both periods of fas ting, Catholi c members on the V C C Commission on Living abstinence and almsgiving", sa id Rev. Fr. Len Thomas, a Fa iths an d Com mu nity Re lations include Sr. Sh irley co-ord inator of the Conference. Sedaw ie, St. Jaci nta Rice and Ms Vicki Walker, who were invo lved in the very well -attended reception to the Dalai We detail a Christ ian/ Jew ish Calenda r fo r 1992, publ ished La ma here in Me lbourne recently. by the Austra li an Counc il of Chri st ians and Jews:-

PRINCIPAL DATES IN PRINCIPAL DATES IN PRINCIPAL DATES IN THE JEWISH CALENDAR THE WESTERN CHURCH CALENDAR THE ORTHODOX CHURCH CALENDAR

Shevat 15 Tu b"Shevat CH RISTMAS CYC LE CHRISTMAS CYCLE St Basil the Great January 20 (New Year for Trees) January 6 Epiphany (Revelation of Christ Janua ry I January 6 Epiphany Adar 14-15 Purim to the Nations) Februa ry 2 Presentation of J esus in the Te mple March 19-20 February 2 Presentation or J esus in the SEASON OF LENT Nisan 15-22 Passover Temple (Candlemas) March 9 Begin ning of Lent AI>r il 18·25 SEASON OF LENT March 25 Annunciation (to Mary) Resurrection of St Lazarus Nisan 27 Holocaust Memorial Day Ma rch 4 Ash Wednesday A1>r il 18 Holy Week Ap r il 30 (Yom HaShoah) March 25 Annunciation (to Mary) April 19 Palm Sunday lyyar 4 Israel Independence Day Holy Week April 23 Holy ThUrsday May 7 (Yom Ha"atzmaut) April 12 Passio n (Pa lm Sunday) April 24 Good Friday lyyar 18 Lag b"Ome r April 25 Holy Saturday April 16 Holy Thursday) EASTER May 21 PASCHAL SEASON April 17 Good Friday ) TRIDUUM April 2(i lyyar 28 Jer usalem Day Et1stcr Sunday April 18 Holy Saturday ) A t>ril 27 St Gctwge May 3 1 (Yom Yerushalayim) PASCHAL SEASON May 8 St .Jo hn the Apos tl e Sivan 6-7 Shavuot (Pentecost) Apr il 19 Easter Sunday PENTECOST June 7-8 .Ju ne 14 Pe ntecost Mzy 28 Ascension Thursday Av 9 Fast of Tisha B"Av June 15 Celebration of the Holy Spirit August 9 PENTECOST Tishri 1·2 Rosh Hashanah (New Year) .June 7 Pen tecost .Ju ne 2!} Saints Pe te r and Pa ul (Apostles) Sei>t emhe r 2R-29 June 14 Trinity Sunday August () Transfi gura tion of .Jesus Tishri 10 Yom Kippur J une 29 August 15 Assumption of the Theotokos Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles) A ugust 29 Beheading of St .John the llaptist Octobe r 7 (Day of Atone men t) August 6 Transfiguration o f Jesus Septe mber 8 Birthday of Theotokos (Ma ry) Tishri 15-2 1 Sukkot (Tabe macles) August 15 Assumption of Mary September 14 Exalta tion of Holy Cross October 12-18 Septembe r 8 Birthday of Mary Novembe r 13 St .J ohn Chrysostom Tishri 22 Shemini Atzeret November I All Saints ADVENT November October 19 (Day of Assembly) 2 All Souls No\'e mbe r 15 B cg i n ni n ~ of Adve n t Tishri 2:J Simchat Torah SEASON OF ADVENT Novembe r 16 St /\·1athew (Apostle ) Novemhe r 21 The Presenta tion of T he otokos in 20 Octobe r November 29 First Su nday of Advant the Te mple 11 Kislev 25 Chanukah December 8 Immaculate Conception or Mary Novembe r 30 St Andrew (AJ>Os tle) December 19-26 (Feast of Dedicatio n) CHRISTMAS CYCLE December 6 St Nicholas I. Simchat Torah and She mini Atzere l ilre celebrated on December 25 Na tivity of Christ CHRISTMAS CYCLE I he same day in lsrne l. Oet:em her 25 Na ti vity of Christ ., The fe ast days begin at sunset ou th<' l' \ ' l' llin ~ he fn r('. as 1:;:\·('ry Wl'dn('sd;:J y & Frid:~ y is ;1 fast day. as MC the \' igils of l h(' dncs t he Sa h hath (nn Fri(l<1y C\'Cnings). Fea s t of Et•i J)hany. St Juhn lhe Bat)list and the Holy Cross. Ash Wednesday a nd Goud Friday arc days of fast <1nd T h L' East kcL•ps four m;1i n fas ts: ( I) 7 wee ks be fore Easte r (th(' :J. .Judaism has a numhc r of o the r fast days throug hou t tht• abstinence. Forme rly the L 1thulic Churc h decreed that meat Great Fo1st}: (2) Apostlt!s ' Fo1s t- le:-td ing to feasts or St l'etl'r and year: Fast nf Esthe r. Fast of T;_u nmuz. F;1 st of Gccl a l iah. could no r be eaten on fridays. but now om• is e ncouraged Paul (fro m 1·6 weeks): (3) 2 w ee ks· rast lead in g to Assumption : Fi.ISI or Shc \'al. to do som e acr of penance on these days. (4 ) 40 days before Christmas.

Post Times. Mond ay, March 9, 1992

Sheikh Fehmi Imam, Fr Bob Maguire and Mrs Anne Reade jointly announce Ramadan, Lent and the World Day of Prayer. THE 350 people from the 3 churches met News From The DANDENONGS together on the Western Plateau at the Roda Garden, Olinda, to witness Ecumenical Affairs the rising sun on Easter Sunday. This new venture will be celebrated again Commission next year. THE ANGLICAN & CATHOLIC COMMISSIONS met recently and were pleased to welcome Fr. George Tavard, *** a leading world ecumenist and author of several books on ecumenism. Fr. Tavard CHRISTIANS IN DIALOGUE is a parish level inter­ was a member of the first church small group program designed to help members Anglican/Roman Catholic of different churches share their traditions and pray International Commission together. It began in Brisbane in 1985, and is sponsored (ARCIC I) and is a by the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, Lutheran District member of the interna­ of Queensland, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of tional Catholic/Methodist Brisbane and the Uniting Church Synod of Queensland. dialogue. In the U.S. he is The three topics include - How We Worship; The Faith also a member of the We Confess and Feed My Lambs, Feed My Sheep and Catholic/ Lutheran dia­ each covers four sessions. Each study package may be logue, which has been photocopied, and further details are available from our going on since 1965. Up E A C office, 406 Albert Street, East Melbourne, or , until two years ago lie telephone us on (03) 662 1962. ' taught for 18 years at a THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES will Methodist Theological hold its 36th General Meeting on Saturday evening, June College in U.S. in the area 27, when the Revd. Dr. Gunter Gassman will give the of dogmatic theology. keynote address. Dr. Gassman heads the World Council In talking to the group Fr. Tavard stressed the need for of Churches Faith and Order Commission. The venue Christians to listen and learn of each others traditions. is Ormond College, Royal Parade, Parkville, and In the U.S.A. much progress has been made in the commencement time is 8 p.m. theological dialogue between the churches but this has PERSONNEL: not been underpinned by dialogue at the local level. This CONGRATULATIONS ...... to our Fr. P. Kenny, E.Y. was a result of fear of the unknown and a reluctance Ecumenical & Inter-Faith Relations, on his appointment to change. as Parish Priest at St. Monica's, Moo nee Ponds. We assure Father of prayer support as he takes up his new ministry. *** THANK YOU ...... to Mr. Tom Tierney, of Blackburn, who During the Easter period it was suggested in a daily has resigned from E A C after 17 years in administration newspaper that Church attendances over Easter had as Secretary/Treasurer. His expertise in this area, as well dropped to an all time low to the extent that in some as his faithfulness to ecumenism at the parish/diocesan churches the pews were virtually empty. level has been an example to his many "friends in On the ecumenical front we are pleased to counter that ecumenism". We look forward to our next issue when report as the feedback we have received has indicated Tom has promised us his "Reflections" over this period. that in many areas people flocked not only to their own APPOINTMENT...... Congratulations to Dr. Margaret churches but to services arranged by the churches in Jenkins, the first Australian Catholic appointed to the their areas. It was also noted that for many Christians Faith and Order Commission on the World Council of the 'ecumenical' gatherings were a highlight of their Churches (WCC). Easter celebrations. Dr. Margaret, a Brigidine Sister, grew up in Melbourne, We include a few of the reports that have come in to and has taught systematic theology at the Yarra the office from local groups- Theological Union for ten years. She is also a member WERRIBEE Over 1,000 people took part in a of the Australian Catholic/Uniting Church dialogue. walk that included a visit to pray at The appointment to the commission of Mrs. Dorothy Lee­ each of the local churches. Pollard, who teaches Scripture at the Uniting Church's MT. WAVERLEY The I C C staged an Easter event College of Theology, has also just been announced. for children from all local schools. 1,350 took part in drama and activ­ ities at Holy Family Church, Mt. Waverley. GLEN WAVERLEYEvents included the Way of the Cross ONE WORLD WEEK is an education program of and a Service at the Lutheran Australian Catholic Relief and Australian Council of Church. Churches (World Christian Action division) from August WANTIRNA Fr. M Cooney reports that three 9-16, 1992. churches in his area came together for an ecumenical service. The theme this year is "Tourism" and both schools and OAKLEIGH A service was held at St. Patrick's, parishes will receive kits beforehand. Murrumbeena, on Good Friday in A ten-day exposure trip to , the Ecumenical Coalition which local churches took part. on Third World Tourism in Bangkok, Thailand, is being BAL WYN NTH Local churches took part in the Way planned by Caesar D'Mello of World Christian Action, of the Cross. telephone 614 4920 Australian Church Women The Pilgrim Church .... IONA is a small, rocky island in the Scottish Hebrides and Celebrate 50 Years today the inspiration behind the ecumenical community On April 24th at the Church that lives there is Protestant. Ronald Ferguson, now of Christ, Swanston Street, a minister of St. Magnus Cathedral in Orkney, was leader very representative gather­ of the Ion a Community from 1981 to 1988. ing of women was held to Pilgrims come in their thousands every year from all over mark 50 years of ecumenical the world - some come because of its history. They come endeavour by the members to capture the spirit of Columba and the Celtic Church. of the Australian Church They come to the ancient burial ground of Scottish and Women Victorian Unit. Nowegian kings ... they are drawn by the m~di~val abbey The President, Mrs. Marion hoping to recapture the chants of the Benedict me monks. Dodds welcomed the Or they are following in the footsteps of the likes of members and guests and all Boswell, Johnson, Keats, Sir Walter Scott, Mendelssohn, present enjoyed a service of Wordsworth, Robert Louis Stevenson, Prince Albert. prayer and worship. During What began as a training scheme for Presbyterian the service a new banner was ministers developed into an ecumenical community of men dedicated to mark the occa­ and women, ordained and lay. Members - the vast sion- the work of a number majority of whom live not on Iona but across the world of members led by Mrs. Joan - commit themselves to a discipline of prayer, economic Cooper - a fitting. way to sharing, planning of time, meeting together and work for express the talents of women · justice and peace. A wide range of denominations is in God's service. This sym­ nowadays represented; there are a number of Catholic bolic banner will be used to members and associates, and the first Catholic priest joined represent the Victorian Unit as a full member in 1989. (The Tablet 21/3/92) at all gatherings. WALSINGHAM ... is a II th century Shrine of Our Lady in A segment of nostalgia was Norfolk, England. lt has become a centre of ecumenical presented and the reminis­ activity where Roman Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans cences of long-standing are working toward the goal of full Christian unity. It members was enjoyed by all is a tiny building within the Shrine Church. The homily was given by The Church has fifteen Chapels, one for each mystery Miss Phyl Davis who spoke of the Rosary which tells of Our Lord's life and that of of all that is done by women His most Holy Mother. There is also an Eastern Orthodox in the church and urged Chapel upstairs. those present to go forth and continue this work. Miss Through the Middle Ages Walsingham's Shrine came to Davis highlighted that which be very famous, and the quiet Norfolk village rivalled Rome does not change and spoke and Compostella as a European pilgri_ma~e centre. In t~e of the pilgrim role of the past fifty years the early tnckle of pilgnms has steadily church as the people of God. grown into a flood which now exceeds a hundred thousand each year. The service was followed by a luncheon during which an (From leaflet kindly supplied by 'pilgrims' Lorraine and updated history of A.C.W. (Victorian Unit.) was lanuched. John MacDonald of Ringwood) A beautiful cake made by Mrs. Jean Rose was cut and RUSSIA .. .On a visit to Russia last week, Cardinal Basil distributed. Hume is said to believe he witnessed a new, positive climate Australian Church Women is an organisation representing for dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox. the mainline churches who have worked together over the During the seven-day private visit, the cardinal lunched years to epitomise their motto:- with Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow - who last year "Christian Women working together can change the World." accused the Vatican of encouraging Catholic proselytism Mrs. Joan Maher in the territory of the former Soviet Union (The Tablet, Publicity Officer 9/ 11 /91 ). At the invitation of Patriarch Alexis, the cardinal later attended the Easter liturgy at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Epiphany in Moscow. The hospit~l~ty Ecumenical prayer cycle - 1992 extended to Cardinal Hume by the Orthodox authonttes Week 24: 7- 13 June - Liberia, Sierra Leone is thought to signify a new spirit of openness towards the Catholic Church. Week 25: 14-20 June - Cape Verde, Guinea, Guinea On his return to England, Cardinal Hume commented: Bissau, Senegal, The Gambia "I believe that everything must be done to develop further Week 26: 21-27 June- Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo the good relationship between the Catholic Church in Week 27: 28 June to 4 July -Nigeria Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church and to promote a greater understanding of their common problems. The Week 28: 5-11 July- Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam Holy Father has often spoken about the Church in Europe Week 29: 12-18 July- Burma, Thailand having to breathe with two lungs. This is so. But they must also be of one heart. For this we must all work and Week 30: 19-25 July - Indonesia pray. (The Tablet 2/5/92) Week 31: 26 July to I August - United States of America IRELAND. ..ISE - the Irish School of Ecumenics is at Week 32: 2-8 August - Canada present planning a new constitution ....i!lcreasing invol~e­ Week 33: 9-15 August - Australia, NewZealand ment in Northern Ireland and their Peace Studies Week 34: 16-22 August - The Pacific Islands Programme. At present students number 55 in the Dublin programmes and 15 in Northern Ireland. Week 35: 23-29 August - The Islands of the Indian In order to maintain our association with this agent of Ocean reconciliation among the churches in the British Isles, E Week 36: 30 August to 5 September - The Caribbean A C subscribes to an ISE newsletter via the Toorak Islands, French Guyana, Guyana, Suriname Ecumenical Movement. Printed by Doran Printing Pt y. Ltd. 4 Commercial Road. Highett 3190. Telephone: 553 0625