OIKOUMENE A NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMISSION FOR ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ALBANY, NY VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 30, 2019

*OIKOUMENE IS GREEK FOR “HOUSE” “FAMILY” “PEOPLE” “NATION” “OPEN TO OR PARTICIPATING IN THE WHOLE IN- HABITED WORLD” AND IS THE SOURCE OF OUR WORD “ECUMENICAL,” BUT HAS A BROADER SENSE. [PER ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA]

“From the Desk of the Director” Feast of St. Andrew: First Called of the 12 Apostles

Dear Clergy, Religious & Lay Friends, Enclosed in the annual ecumenical Celebration of the Word of God – for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (1/18-25) or other times during the year (E.g., the 9 days between Ascension & Pentecost); the theme this year is: They Showed Us Unusual Kindness (Acts 28:2). We will celebrate Church Unity Octave at the Pastoral Center on Wed., Jan. 22nd, 12:15 P.M.

This letter to the diocese affords me the welcome opportunity to say thank you to our office Secretary, Lisa Petrocelli & the Commission for Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs of the Diocese.

Interesting fact: All Saints Episcopal Cathedral has a connection with new St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, as the first Rector of the Cathedral was part of the Oxford Movement & studied his Tracts. “The universal Church is recognizing someone whose roots are English but who also achieved great things for Christian unity…St. Newman’s motto: ‘Heart speaks to Heart’ calls us to be good evangelizers & disciples, open & ready to listen in periods of division & disagreement.” -Bishop Longley (Archdiocese of Birmingham –the saints’ home diocese) The lyrics from a hymn St. John Newman penned still speak: “kindly lights amid the encircling gloom.”

CONGRATULATIONS! “The Dean and Chapter wish to acknowledge the Rev. David LeFort, Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and welcome him as a member of our Cathedral foundations as an honorary Canon.” “Acknowledgements” – (Episcopal) Cathedral of All Saints (which is in Covenant with I.C.C.) -Fr. David LeFort joins the late Msgr. Jack Jones, Fr. Bill Pape: past Rectors & myself as honorary Canons

“My proposition to all of us this evening is that in letting freedom ring, we citizens of any and all faiths, or none at all, are not paranoid or self-serving in defending what we hoard as ours, but are in fact protecting the country we love. We act not as sectarians, but as responsible citizens on behalf of the truth about the human person.” +Timothy Cardinal Dolan at America’s Freedom Festival (6/30/19) in Utah: reprinted in “Church News” of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints [Note: this is their preferred title, rather than Mormon]

2019 = 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ visit to the Holy Land and amidst the V Crusade, his 8-day visit with Sultan al-Kamil in , in peaceful dialogue. The book that tells the story, The Saint and the Sultan (Paul Moses), is to be made into a movie  Thank you to Siena for local commemorations.

“Trusting in the protection of the Almighty, I strongly hope to be able to contribute to the progress that the relations between Jews & Catholics have known since the II Vatican Council, in a spirit of renewed collaboration and service to the world that may always be ever more in harmony with the will of the Creator.” -Pope Francis, on the night of his election (3/13/13) to the Chief Rabbi of Rome.

“In the history of humanity, very few places have ever incited the same degree of fear, abomination and scandal as the ground we stand on today….Auschwitz-Birkenau encapsulate what humankind, when motivated by pure

We are God’s people sharing a responsibility to witness God’s unconditional love . hatred, can do to desacralize and deface the dignity of the human person, who is created in the image of [over] God…Auschwitz will forever remain a symbol of radical evil – proof of the destruction and violence that man is capable of when he falls victim to brainwashing and the rhetoric of hatred; when his emotions are neutralized and his creative powers are depleted….We must do everything within our means to ensure that the tragedy of Shoah never happens again.” -Patriarch Bartholomew – at Auschwitz, in front of 10,00 people (5/2/19)

Keep in prayer the schism within Orthodoxy on Patriarch Bartholomew signing the “Tomos” of Ukrainian Autocephaly (independent Church).

“….as a result, the desires of many Orthodox & Catholic Christians for a more intimate relationship of faith and religious practice, especially through Eucharistic sharing, remains largely unfulfilled. And while it is clearly the role of both leaders & other members of our Churches to act as‘stewards of the mysteries of God’(ICor.4:1), one must also ask whether a deep sense of responsibility for the heritage we guard can also sometimes pose an obstacle to reunion…Our focus in thinking about the Church, and in celebrating its reality, must be on the unity of the people of God that is grounded in our common baptism, and on a corresponding understanding of the diversity of roles & charisms with that radically unified people.” -“The Vocation & Mission of the People of God” (N.A. Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation-5/29/19)

“In a world wounded by conflict, the unity of Christians is a sign of hope that must radiate ever more visibly. With this in mind, I also assure your Holiness of my prayer that God, fount of reconciliation and peace, may grant us Christians to ‘be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another’ (1 Peter 3:8).” –Pope Francis in a greeting to Patriarch Bartholomew on the feast of St. Andrew (11/30/18)

Three rules of religious understanding: 1. When trying to understand another religion, you should ask the adherents of that religion and not its enemies 2. Don’t compare your best to their worst 3. Leave room for holy envy. -Rev. Dr. Krister Stendahl (former Dean of Harvard Divinity School)

From the Common Statement by Mar Gewargis III, Catholicus-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East and Pope Francis: 7. “Finally, we reaffirm that the more difficult the situation, the more necessary is interreligious dialogue grounded in an attitude of openness, truth and love. Such dialogue is also the best antidote to extremism, which is a threat to the followers of every religion.” (11/9/18)

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” -Delai Lama “Why did God make us? God made us to show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in heaven.” –Baltimore Catechism No. 2 (#3)

“I pledge from this day onward: -I will speak out against anyone who mocks, seeks to intimidate or actually hurt someone of a different race, religion, ethnic group, gender or sexual orientation; -I will reach out to support those who are targets of harassment; -I will do my best to interrupt prejudice and to stop those who, because of hate, would hurt, harass or violate the civil rights of anyone; -I will try at all times to be aware of my own biases against people who are different from myself; -I will seek to deepen my understanding of other cultures, religions, sexual identities, and races that I don’t understand; -I will think of specific ways my community can promote respect for people and create a prejudice-free zone I firmly believe that one person can make a difference and that person can be an ‘innocent bystander’ when it comes to opposing hate.” -“Schenectady Clergy Against Hate”

We are God’s people sharing a responsibility to witness God’s unconditional love . “The things that unite us ought to be the very basis of our approach, not those things that keep us apart.” -St. Peter Faber (died in 1546: one of the 1st 7 Jesuits; feastday = Aug. 1)

“The truth does not fear dialogue, because truth has never been endangered by dialogue.” –Bartholomew I

This prayer is prayed every weekday morning at Lambeth Palace--headquarters of : “Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one, we pray to you for the unity of Christians, according to your will, according to your means. May your Spirit enable us to experience the suffering caused by division, to see our sin, and to hope beyond all hope.” –Catholic Chemin Neuf Community, who have a residence at Lambeth

“…we must understand Islam. If we do, we will find that Islam is both beautiful & flawed, as with any religion – Christianity or otherwise. Though Islam has fundamental differences that are sometimes hard to reconcile with how Americans view life & faith, it’s better to work through those struggles than to ignore them [over] and let hate ferment. By understanding Islam – both its brilliance and faults – we can work toward establishing the equality that America’s founders set out to create. It may not be a fast solution – ending hate is never quick – but as more people study unfamiliar religions, we will make America a better place; not obsessed with finding an enemy to fight, but instead focused on ensuring that everyone has access to the equality we promise.” -Peter Steinbach (Trinity University)

Note: In a change to Church canon law, Latin-rite Catholic deacons may not preside at a Wedding when one or both of the spouses are members of an Eastern [priests must preside in Eastern churches]

“May we not let ourselves be dragged along by the hurts we nurse within us; let there be no room for anger. For one evil never corrects another evil, no vendetta ever satisfies an injustice, no resentment is ever good for the heart and no rejection will ever bring us closer to others.” -Pope Francis: speaking to the Roma (Gypsy) community of Romania – during his visit with them – 6/19/19

“The soul of interfaith dialogue which has its roots in the 1960’s (Cf. Vatican II’s “Nostra Aetate” – 10/65) continues to be illuminated today in the Capital Region. Ceil stands among other giants of interfaith generosity who offered a unique hospitality of listening and respect to bring peace, justice, and healing in the world. Certainly, whenever two or more people come together, holiness dwells among them. May it continue to be so.” -Remarks for the Religion Unity Award from the American Italian Heritage Society - given to past Jewish- R.C. Dialogue partner: (“Ceil”) Cecelia Santina Valeri Garfinkle: -Kathleen Kerrigan Duff (10/27/19: 1st anniversary of the killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in )

“Heads of 3 Abrahamic Faiths Sign Document Against ‘Mercy Killing’” – Headline: Jewish World (10/31/19) -signed by representatives of ’s Chief Rabbinate, Sunni Muslims from Indonesia, Greek Orthodox, Et.Al. & presented to Pope Francis (10/27/19) “The Declaration details the importance of life for all persons who were created in the Divine Image and notes that the value of life is a supreme value for all of the participating faiths.”

From the Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio, Aperuit Illis, 9/30/19 (1600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome): “Consequently, I hereby declare that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God. This Sunday of the Word of God will thus be a fitting part of that time of the year when we are encouraged to strengthen our bonds with the Jewish people and to pray for Christian unity. This is more than a temporal coincidence: the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God has ecumenical value, since the Scriptures point out, for those who listen, the path to authentic and firm unity.”

“…today the habit of persecuting Jews is beginning to be reborn…this is neither human nor Christian: the Jews are our brothers & sisters and must not be persecuted! Understood?” -Pope Francis (11/13/19)

We are God’s people sharing a responsibility to witness God’s unconditional love .

OFFICE OF ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS AFFAIRS Tel. (518) 453-6660, Fax (518) 453-6793 email: [email protected] DIRECTOR: Rev. Fr. James Kane SECRETARY: Lisa Petrocelli DIOCESAN COMMISSION: CHAIRPERSON— Mr. Edward L. Falterman Mr. David Amico—Liaison, Office of Lay Ministry & Parish Faith Formation Deacon Walter Ayres—Liaison, Peace & Justice Commission Mr. Peter Crasto-Donnelly Mrs. Kathleen Kerrigan Duff—Liaison to Jewish-Catholic Dialogue The Rev. Donna Elia—Protestant Observer Mrs. Audrey Hughes—Muslim-Catholic Dialogue Mrs. Joan Lipscomb Rev. Fr. Joe Manerowski Rev. Fr. David Mickiewicz—Liaison to Orthodox Dialogue Mr. Frank Pell— “Our Neighbors’ Faith” Ms. Ann Snyder Sr. Betsy Van Deusen, CSJ Mrs. Lynn Waterman

Oikoumene is Greek for “house” “family” “people” “nation” “open to or participating in the whole inhabited world” and is the source of our word “Ecumenical,” but has a broader sense. [per Encyclopaedia Britannica] If you would like to receive copies of this publication by email or would like to sign up for your own snail mail subscription please contact the Commission: [email protected] or 518.453.6660. We are also online—www.rcda.org/offices/ecumenical_and_interreligious/oikoumene.html

We are God’s people sharing a responsibility to witness God’s unconditional love .