Christian Unity
Jesus’s prayer on the night before he died “that they may all be one […] so that the world may believe that you sent me.” (Jn 17:21) is a clear instruction that his followers should be as one, and it underpins Pope Francis’s encouragement to all bishops that Christian Unity must not become just “one more task in the bishop’s varied ministry”. Christian Unity, he said, is not “an optional dimension of [the bishop’s] ministry, but a duty and obligation.”
Jesus’s direction applies to the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike. Our Diocesan Plan reflects this obligation, noting that journeying alongside fellow Christians will allow us to learn from each other and be better prepared to reach the world beyond the Church so that we can share the Gospel Message.
Click the button below to read about Bishop Philip’s commitment to Christian Unity as well as a couple of key Vatican documents on the topic, ideas for engaging with other Christians in your area, and an introduction to the Christian Unity Team who support the journey to Christian Unity in this diocese.
Photo: Dicastero per la Promozione dell’Unità dei Cristiani (Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity)
Inter Religious Dialogue
The inter-religious dialogue team seeks to develop good relations with other religious communities and their leaders, through discussion, visiting of religious centres and public walks and the like to heighten people’s awareness of the importance of religion and of people of religion working together. Headed up by Mgr Vincent Harvey the small team regularly meet online to discuss possible events to encourage interest from the Catholic Community and beyond.
Photo: Dicastero per la Promozione dell’Unità dei Cristiani (Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity)
