The Malines Conversations Group, an ecumenical group focussing on questions of Catholic and Anglican unity, concluded their ninth meeting at the end of last month. Held on the isle of Malta, where St Paul was shipwrecked on his way to Rome, the meeting had the support of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
The group, which celebrates its tenth anniversary later this year, released a document in 2021, Sorores in Spe, arguing that the Catholic Church should revisit the question of whether Anglican priestly orders are valid.
Welcomed to the island by the Archbishop of Malta, Charles Scicluna, participants in the group took part in reflections on the Book of Acts, led by the Catholic scholar Fr Dominic Mendonca OP and on contemporary issues of migration and solidarity, facilitated by representatives of the Jesuit Refugee Service.
Members of the Irish bishops’ conference and the national steering committee of the Irish Synodal Pathway gathered at Knock Shrine on the Feast of the Visitation in response to Pope Francis’ call for a worldwide day of prayer for the Synod.
The chief celebrant at the Mass in Knock Basilica placing the Church’s synodal process under the protection of Mary, Mother of the Church, was the Archbishop of Tuam Francis Duffy. The Bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy, recalled St Louis de Montfort’s words, “Where Mary is to be found, the Spirit comes rushing in.”
Driven by the Gospel message and mission of Jesus Christ, the Church remains a “formidable force” in prison reform, an audience was told at the annual lecture of Pact, the Catholic charity that supports prisoners and their families across England and Wales.
Dr Chijioke Nwalozie, senior lecturer in criminology and criminal justice at De Montfort University, Leicester, said that when prisoners are poorly treated the Church must act as a critical stakeholder and vanguard of prison reform.
Delivering the Sir Harold Hood lecture at Maria Fidelis Catholic School, Camden, London, Dr Nwalozie, founding director of Prisons Support Services Nigeria, added: “There are many saints in prison. Ask anyone working in chaplaincy and they will tell you.”
Great Big Green Week, organised by the Climate Coalition whose members include Cafod, the Church of England environment programme, Christian Aid and the Salvation Army, takes place 10-18 June.
The week includes events such as litter picks in parishes, advocacy by justice and peace groups and school assemblies. Cafod is suggesting that its supporters write a “prayer for tomorrow”, asking God to guide efforts to care for our common home and leave a better world for future generations.
The Southern Dioceses Environment Network, which covers eight dioceses, is organising a Zoom talk on 12 June with Dr Shanon Shah of Faith for the Climate and Andy Atkins of A Rocha. In the Church of England, the parish of St Peter Mancroft in Norwich is hosting talks on 10 June on water, orchards and sustainability and St Paul’s in Cheltenham is running a bike project on 14 June.
The Scottish Laity Network is organising four online talks this month on the theme of the synodal journey. Robert Burnett of the network said, “As we look forward to the universal stage of the Synod it seems appropriate to reflect on two key questions – what has the spirit been saying? What are our hopes and fears?”
Massimo Faggioli of Vallanova University spoke on 1 June on insights from North America and Sr Nathalie Becquart was due to speak on insights from the General Secretariat on 8 June. Claudia Nothelle is speaking on insights from the German synodal path on 15 June and Rafael Luciani on insights from Latin America on 22 June.
An ecumenical guide for the Season of Creation in English and other languages was launched on 5 June, World Environment Day. The season, between 1 September and 4 October, has the theme “Let justice and peace flow”.
A prayer service and action suggestions for the celebration are offered, plus ideas for a creation walk or pilgrimage, craft ideas and advocacy pointers on climate and biodiversity. Fr Joshstrom Kureethadam, from the ecology section of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, and Christina Leaño of the Laudato Si’ Movement are among the Catholic members of the Season of Creation international steering committee.
Archbishop John Sentamu has resigned as chair of Christian Aid. The former Archbishop of York was last month ordered to step back from active ministry after a Church of England safeguarding review found he failed to act on disclosures made following an historic case of sexual abuse against a young boy committed by another clergyman.
He resigned from his post with the charity because he was concerned that recent events could become a “distraction” from its vital work. He has rejected the findings of the review. Vice-chair Maggie Swinson has become interim chair while a new chairman is found.
Loading ...
