It is the mysterious and challenging Jesus, who is always capable of surprising us, and stretching us, who must always be at the heart of the journey of faith and fidelity to which we give the name “ecumenism”.
These were the words of Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB last Sunday 10 November speaking at St George’s Anglican Cathedral for the 60th anniversary of Unitatis Redintegratio.
Promulgated by the now Saint Pope John XXIII on 21 November 1964, Unitatis Redintegratio – Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism – brought the Catholic Church into the ecumenical movement as a key player by signalling unqualified commitment to the search for Christian unity.
The Vespers for Unity Service, led by Anglican Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy AO with the homily preached by Archbishop Costelloe, was an opportunity for the Anglican and Catholic Church to recommit to ecumenical dialogue, journeying together in prayer, fellowship and action.
The service commenced with a Welcome to Country by Whadjuk/Baladong man Samuel Yombich Pilot-Kickett. The congregation was then led through a service that included several prayers, a scripture reading proclaimed by Canon Sam Walsh AO, the Office of Readings from Pope St Leo the Great proclaimed by (Catholic) Dominican Sr Margaret Scharf OP, the Homily by Archbishop Costelloe and music performed by the St George’s Cathedral Choir.
Among the Catholic clergy joining Archbishop Costelloe were Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, Morley Parish Priest Fr Greg Burke OCD and Embleton Parish Priest Fr Patrick Toohey.
The Anglican leadership present for the occasion included Assistant Bishop, the Right Rev Hans Christiansen, Assistant Bishop the Right Reverend David Bassett, Venerable Kathy Barrett-Lennard, St George’s Cathedral Dean, the Very Reverend Chris Chataway, Precentor, Rev Steve Hilton, and Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Peter Carnley, in addition to numerous priests, canons and deacons.
Speaking about his experience in becoming Archbishop of Perth in 2012, Archbishop Costelloe repeated his message highlighted to him through his Salesian community, “The greatest challenge facing religious life today is to return the religious life to Christ and to return Christ to the religious life”.
“I have reflected often on this and have come to the conclusion that they are words which every Christian, and every Christian community, and every Christian Church, needs to hear,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.
“As I was reflecting and praying over what I could share with you this evening, it seemed to me that they are words which can speak powerfully to all those who take the prayer of Jesus, his desire for unity among his disciples, seriously,” he said.
In the end, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted, the path to Christian unity must, before all else, be a pathway to a deeper encounter with Christ.
“He is, after all, the one who said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (cf John 12:32),” Archbishop Costelloe continued.
“It is by being drawn to him that we will find ourselves all gathered together at the foot of the cross. We will find our unity in him,” he said.
Speaking also about his recent experience of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Costelloe spoke about the final document, which he explained, insists that any reform or renewal of the Catholic Church must look beyond issues of governance and structures.
“During the Ecumenical Prayer Service which was held inside the Vatican in an outdoor piazza where, according to tradition, Saint Peter and many other Christians died for their faith, Pope Francis, referring to the document Unitatis Redintegratio which we are remembering tonight, made this very simple statement: the closer Christians are to Christ, the closer they are to one another,” Archbishop Costelloe recalled.
“Perhaps rightly, then, we too can say, with humility and with hope: The greatest ecumenical challenge facing our churches today is to return our churches to Christ and return Christ to our churches,” he concluded.
