Grassroots Ecumenical Dialogue in Almuñécar, Granada Province, Spain


Ecumenical relations between Anglicans and Roman Catholics are in excellent shape in Almuñécar. During my recent parish visit to our Diocese in Europe congregations in Nerja and Almuñécar, the Revd Geoff Johnston, the priest-in-charge, and I were offered hospitality by the Roman Catholic clergy team which serves the Almuñécar and Herradura parishes. Over a splendid lunch of tapas and rabbit paella, we explored a range of issues touching upon the life of our Churches including vocations to the sacred ministry, work with young people, ecumenical relations between Roman Catholics and Anglicans in England, Muslim-Christian relations and liturgical renewal. Our Roman Catholic colleagues were keen to know how decisions taken by some bishops and dioceses in the USA, particularly on the matter of same-sex blessings, were affecting the life of the Anglican Communion. This led to an honest discussion about how authority is regarded (or disregarded!) in our respective Churches. We also found much common interest in the spiritual teachings of St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila. Our Roman Catholic colleagues appreciate the writing and study on these two saints that is being undertaken by English scholars. Our hosts were fascinated by aspects of English Church history and how, in the established Church of England, the Prime Minister and Crown have a role to play in the appointment of bishops. I learned that it was not so long ago that the Spanish monarchy played a role in the Spanish Roman Catholic Church not unlike the present role of the Queen in the Church of England.
In 2011 the (Roman Catholic) World Youth Encounter comes to Madrid. The diocese of Granada along with the other Spanish dioceses will host young people from all over the world in local churches before they journey together to Madrid. Over lunch we explored how Anglicans (with their English language skills) might assist the Roman Catholic Diocese of Granada as they host young people in the pre-Madrid visit. Fr Geoff and Fr Antonio have already begun a monthly Taizé prayer service with youth from both traditions taking part.
In the photo from left to right: Padres Rubén, Eugenio, Antonio and Miguel, with myself and Fr Geoff Johnston in the middle.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell to the Diocese in Europe

Image
Deacon Frances and I packed up our office yesterday and turned over our official files, emails and equipment. Thus a close working together for 22 years comes to an end. So it is hard to believe that today, St David's day, a new chapter begins, after 44 years of stipendiary ministry, 22 years as deacon then priest and 22 as a bishop.  Here are just a few memories from the last couple of months...   But now it is time to begin a new chapter.  O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course: forgive our impatience, perfect our faith and, while we await the fulfilment of your promise, grant us to have a good hope because of your Word,  even Jesus Christ our Lord. (St Gregory Nazianzus, 330 - 390)
Read more

Archbishop of Canterbury's Pentecost Letter: A European Consequence

Image
In his Pentecost letter, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned of certain consequences for provinces of the Anglican Communion which have failed to stand by the three moratoria . (No authorisation of blessings services for same-sex unions; no consecrations of bishops living in same-sex relationships; and no bishop authorising any ministry within the diocese of another bishop without explicit permission). One consequence would be that representatives from such provinces w ould not be able to participate in the formal international interchurch dialogues of the Communion. One of those dialogues is the Anglican-Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council ( AOCICC ), the official instrument set up to deepen the relationship of communion established in 1931 between the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht . As the member Churches of the Union of Utrecht are all European, the AOCICC is effectively a European body. (I am one of the members, appo...
Read more

Bishop Austin Rios of California

Image
It was a joyful, colourful, multicultural three-hour liturgy. At Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, the Revd Austin Rios was consecrated the bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of California. I have known Austin from his time as the Rector of St Paul's Episcopal Church in Rome, where he was a great friend and collaborator with our own Church of England All Saints Chaplaincy in that city. The liturgy, appropriately, marked the multiculural make-up of the diocese, with prayers, readings, hymns and songs in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Tonga and Mandarin. The final procession was led by a Chinese dragon! I was told that there were about 300 in the procession and 2000 present in the beautiful gothic cathedral on Nob Hill San Francisco. My good friend and ecuenical colleague from Rome Fr Keith Peckers SJ was also in attenance, so the Church of Rome and the Church of England were both represented! Among the bishop friends present were Bishop Mark Edington of the Episcopal Convocation in Europe, a...
Read more