That was the decision of a group of students at a northern Michigan engineering school back in 2016.

Following the success of the first ice chapel, each subsequent iteration included more embellishment.

An altar was made from ice cut from Lake Superior. To encourage social distancing last year, students built snow pews. Read more

People are invited to join in prayers as part of the International Week of Prayer for World Peace, with different churches hosting prayers throughout the week. Palmerston North Interfaith Council spokeswoman Mary Eastham said the group had celebrated the week since 2011. Read more

He was elected Metropolitan of New Zealand by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the end of May, following the retirement of Metropolitan Amphilochios Tsoukos. Continue reading

It shows a major development in ecumenism by establishing that difference is not cause for suspicion or reproach but is rather an opportunity for mutual listening, learning and conversion.

The statement, Walking Together on the Way: Learning to Be the Church — Local, Regional, Universal, was released to the public July 2 after seven years of joint meetings and consultations.

In their introduction co-chairmen, Catholic archbishop Bernard Longley and Anglican archbishop Sir David Moxon wrote that the document sought to develop the issues of authority and ecclesial communion "in a new way."

Moxon, who is a New Zealander, was the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative in Rome from December 2012 until June 2017, when he retired and returned to New Zealand.

He had previously been the Bishop of Waikato in the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki, the archbishop of the New Zealand dioceses and one of the three primates of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

The document proposes that the understanding how the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion structure authority and exercise authority in communion on the local, regional and global levels are key for understanding how each body discerns its teaching and practices on critical issues in ethics and moral theology.

It says this is also key for understanding and addressing questions, debates or divisions experienced internally within the churches.

This means the document also seeks to inform, enrich and help not just the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion on an ecumenical level, but also in dealing with their own internal debates and tensions.

Catholics can learn from Anglicans in giving a greater role to the laity in matters of church governance and more authority to local bishops' conferences.

Anglicans should focus on setting up structures and processes that safeguard the worldwide identity of its Communion and avoid becoming too focused on one province.

Source

• thebostonpilot.co
• en.wikipedia.org
• thetablet.co.uk
• Image: southportcatholicchurches.org

At the Presbyterian General Assembly which met in Belfast last week, delegates voted to allow moderator Rev. Dr Charles McMullen to meet the pope when he attends World Meeting of Families events in Dublin on August 25th and 26th.

Traditionally the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland, has been most opposed to Catholicism and its leadership.

Prior to the Assembly McMullan had said, "It all depends on what our Church decides, and I don't want to be presumptuous to expect an invitation.

"Personally speaking, I would have no hesitation in meeting him".

McMullen was educated at Omagh Academy, then at Trinity College Dublin.

He also studied at St Anthony's College in Oxford.

McMullen told the Presbyterian Herald that his time in Dublin and Oxford made him realise "that there were Christians in the world other than Presbyterians.

"It had a whole widening influence on me".

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has also loosened ties with the Church of Scotland over the latter's moves towards recognising same-sex marriage.

Generally recognised as the mother church of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Church of Scotland has instructed officials to consider changes to its laws to allow its ministers to preside at same-sex-marriage ceremonies.

The proposal to end the relationship was passed by 255 to 171.

Rev. Dr George Whyte, the principal clerk of the Church of Scotland, was attending with its moderator, the Right Rev. Susan Brown.

After the decision was made they said they we have no choice but to leave.

They were both visibly upset and immediately left the assembly hall.

Source

• irishtimes.com
• belfasttelegraph.co.uk
• irishnews.com
• Image: belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Fr Talipope Vaifale, Elaine Harvey and Marcelles Amiatu were commissioned by Monsignor Bernard Kiely, vicar general of the Catholic diocese of Auckland.

The event was well attended by colleagues who took part in the para-liturgy by handing those being commissioned the symbols of their office.

Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy (ICHC) Regional Chaplain Rev Julian Perkins read a Gospel passage.

Sr Alei Leilua and Fr Christopher Brady were farewelled. They had served for 5 and for 10 years respectively.

Commending the dedication of the assembled chaplains, Kiely said it seemed to him that running shoes were the necessary footwear for hard-working chaplains.

Even in a hospital setting, they travel great distances to bring comfort and reassurance.

In 1996, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference became a foundation signatory of the Trust that established the ICHC.

At its heart, ICHC is an ecumenical association of major Christian churches who work in collaboration to minister to patients and their families who, because of illness, are required to stay in hospital.

ICHC negotiates with the Ministry of Health on behalf of all member churches and appoints and manages all non-Catholic hospital chaplains.

Catholic appointments are made by each Diocese in collaboration with ICHC.

There is a small number of priests around the country who are permanently assigned to a major hospital; they also have parish duties to fulfill.

All other Diocesan priests are committed to providing 24/7 support for Catholic patients who are in imminent danger of dying.

Most Catholic hospital chaplains are lay-people who have been trained and commissioned by their Bishop to spend time with Catholic patients and their families and pray familiar prayers.

They work in close collaboration with either a designated priest chaplain or a local parish to ensure access to Holy Communion and, where necessary, other Sacraments of the Church.

Catholic lay chaplains are also required to be available for ministry to all patients in the hospital and enjoy a constructive relationship with their non-Catholic colleagues.

"If you or a family member are to be in hospital and would like to be visited by a chaplain, then it is often easier to advise the parish office in advance rather than rely on the hospital notification which is often complicated by Privacy Act considerations," says senior Catholic hospital chaplain Tony Lenton.

He said "People may think that some sacraments of the Church, especially Anointing of the Sick, are reserved for the dying but in fact, they are available to all who wish to prepare spiritually and emotionally for what will be a worrying time. Again, discussion with your parish office is advised."

To contact a hospital Chaplain or to get further information visit: https://www.catholic.org.nz/find-us/chaplancies/#section_72

Source

• Supplied: Tony Lenton

Thousands of people gathered, despite the poor weather, to pray for forgiveness and for the country in the face of the growing challenges it is experiencing.

The Tonga National Forum of Church Leaders organised the occasion after an increasing number of murders, road deaths and the most severe cyclone ever recorded.

There is said to be a conviction among the church leaders in Tonga that the unusually high number of murder cases and people dying from road accidents recently were a result of the "sinful way of life" that Tongans are living.

Illegal drugs and excess alcohol were said to be the cause of some of the fatalities.

One of the church leaders asked everyone, including the King, to kneel and offer their prayers to God.

Seven choirs performed to the thousands in the run-up to the service.

A famous Tongan hymn called Pule'anga mo e Siasi ka e malohi ha fonua was sung.

The hymn says that the church and state must stand together for the country to stand at all.

The event was a display of Christian unity from seven different churches - the Church of Latter Day Saints, Siasi Tokaikolo, the Free Church of Tonga, the Free Constitutional Church of Tonga, the Church of Tonga, the Roman Catholic Church and the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

Source

• royalcentral.co.uk
• cookislandsnews.com
• Image tonganz.net

The meeting was part of their ongoing commitment to dialogue between the two Churches.

They have previously met on numerous occasions and worked together on issues including homelessness, poverty, trafficking and the environment.

The bishops shared a meal and gathered in prayer on Tuesday evening, before Wednesday's meeting.

Archbishop Sir David Moxon, of the Anglican Church, joined the gathering to share reflections on Anglican-Roman Catholic Ecumenism including ways to work together in areas of justice, development and peacemaking.

As part of the day's discussions, the bishops looked at a new approach to Maori Pastoral Care in Aotearoa.

The Wellington Catholic Archdiocese was discussed, as an example, where a new approach to Maori Pastoral Care is being implemented to enable Archdiocese services to build their respective Maori capability and capacity.

During the day, the bishops also considered the topic of secularisation, tracing the history of secular thought, its philosophical and scientific underpinnings and some results, both positive and negative, of such changes in mainly Western society.

Bishop Philip Richardson who, as Archbishop, shares the leadership of the Anglican Church in these islands, said "Catholic and Anglican Bishops have enjoyed strong friendships over many years.

"These friendships have translated into cooperation on many things at a local level and across the country."

Bishop Patrick Dunn, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops, commented further, "the bishops have shared some really fruitful discussions on a number of issues and this meeting has been a valuable opportunity to reconnect and reflect on how we can continue to work in achieving our shared goals."

Source
Supplied: Amanda Gregan
Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops
Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa

On this date in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses, concerning failings he saw in the Church, on the door of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Electorate of Saxony in the Holy Roman Empire.

Bishop Whitfield and Cardinal Dew officially signed a document, Dialogue for Unity As Reformation Remembered, based on a statement recently issued in Australia.

In Australia, a Roman Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue team has been discussing ongoing issues for the past 30 years.

The Lutheran Church of New Zealand, as a District of the Lutheran Church of Australia, has been a party to this discussion.

The Lutheran and Catholic representatives on the New Zealand Dialogue Commission are now committed to studying the documents of the Australian Dialogue and presenting both the pastoral and theological fruit of the discussion to the Catholic and Lutheran churches in New Zealand.

In the document signed on Sunday, the two leaders encouraged the members of their churches to work for unity.

"Unity is indeed the gift of God and the will of Christ in whom all things hold together (cf Colossians 1:17).

"We gratefully acknowledge the unity we already share. Together we confess one faith, one Lord, one baptism.

"We encourage all members of our two communities, Roman Catholic and Lutheran, to hear God's call for continued transformation, meeting together whenever possible and witnessing the joy and power of the gospel in daily life."

The signing was followed by a service at St Paul's Anglican Cathedral in Wellington to mark the reformation.

Earlier this year, the Cardinal and Bishop Mark led an ecumenical worship service at Sacred Heart Cathedral attended by Catholic, Lutheran and several other Christian denominations, formally opening the New Zealand dialogue between the Catholic and Lutheran Churches.

Read the Statement

Source

Supplied New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
Image: lcasynod.au/resources.stuff.co.nz/supplied

The food will be distributed to individuals and families who are going through difficult times.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made the presentation to Catholic leaders in French Polynesia on Friday 25 August.

Stevenson affirmed support of the Catholic Church in French Polynesia in its efforts of the to feed the poor and support them in other humanitarian ways.

He was accompanied during his visit by Elder O. Vincent Haleck, president of the Pacific Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Elder Benjamin Sinjoux, Area Seventy.

Stevenson, Haleck and Sinjoux were warmly welcomed by the archbishop of Papeete, Jean-Pierre Cottanceau, and some of his colleagues.

They discussed issues relating to homelessness in Tahiti and the need to provide food to those in desperate circumstances.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second-highest presiding body in the government of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church.

Its members serve under the direction of the First Presidency, a governing unit of three men — the president and two counselors.

Stevenson, 56, was named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015.

Source

• Mormon Newsroom
• Mormon Newsroom
• Image: Mormon Newsroom

He says that on first impression the three tikanga church has modelled an age-old Anglican virtue of patience; something, he fears, that is in danger of being lost.

He has that impression, he says, because of what took place at the 2016 General Synod.

Idowu-Fearon noted that while the Tikanga Maori and the Tikanga Pasifika both could have asked for the vote to be taken on the issue of same gender blessing they chose to give Tikanga Pakeha - who were themselves stuck, divided and in danger of splitting - more time to find their way forward.

"For me that is the height of patience. That is the height of love and concern. And it is the practical outworking of this concept the Primates came up with in January 2016, that we work together in spite of our differences."

"There is always a need for patience. And I believe that this province is reminding our Communion that patience is a major characteristic of what it means to be Anglican."

Idowu-Fearon is convinced that where same-gender blessing is concerned, Anglicans are called to show a lead in finding a workable answer to that question.

He says Anglicans should earnestly pray that they do not fall into the temptation of schism.

Instead, they should hold fast to the virtue of patience.

"The Americans won't like this, but can you imagine if they had had leaders like Archbishops Brown and Winston to say: ‘Hang on: Let's give some time'? They would have won more sympathisers?"

"And you see no matter what we do, there is no way that either the right or the left will ever win. It's not possible."

"So our best option, is the Christ option: Be together. Walk together. Checkmate each other."

"When we're together, there is no room for arrogance: ‘I don't need you. I don't want to know you '- I haven't read that in the gospel.

"As one of the new Primates said to me: ‘Jesus walked with the Pharisees, Sadducees and sinners.'

‘Do I have a choice?' "

"Or as the Pope has said: ‘Who am I to judge?' "

Source

• Anglican Taonga
• Image: Anglican Taonga

He told those gathered to honour the occasion that his first posting was to Pahiatua where the then parish priest advised him that "the less you say, the more you say."

"As a Martinborough parishioner, where Fr. Don celebrates vigil Mass on a Saturday evening, I can confirm that Fr Don took this advice to heart - homilies are 3 - 5 minutes max!" said Margaret Bath, writing in the Martinborough Star.

"Although extra padding (topics which include family matters, Harry-the-dog visits to the vet, doctors, dentists visits, etc) are all covered before the final blessing." she added.

Morrison has spent of 34 of his 60 years of priesthood years living in Featherston, in the shadow of the Rimutaka Range, serving the people of South Wairarapa.

The whole community, Catholic and non-Catholic, honoured Morrison's 60th anniversary on July 22nd with a mass attended by local dignitaries, Cardinal John Dew and 14 other priests.

In all, about 200 people attended.

Bath said Morrison had done great work not only for the Catholic community but all.

"He mixes well, has a great sense of humour, has been a Rotarian, is great with the children who know that at special occasions there is always a treat, even a sibling baptism!

"He is a leading example of 'ecumenism at work'" she said.

Morrison celebrated his 85th birthday last December and takes his dog, Harry, for a daily walk around the streets of Featherston and talks to all he meets - young and old.

On Wednesdays, after the weekly Martinborough Mass, he can be found walking the aisles of local businesses Pain & Kershaw or Mitre 10 singing...la- la- la -la.

He also is often to be found at St Teresa's School in Featherston and uses his talents as an artist to illustrate God's teachings.

In the course of his priesthood, he has served in Kilbirnie, Opunake, Takaka, Featherston, 1976-80, Picton and Karori.

He returned to South Wairarapa in 1990.

Sources

• Martinborough Star
• WelCom
• Image: WelCom

On Sunday 4 June Lutheran Bishop Mark Whitfield and Cardinal John Dew will open a formal dialogue for the two Christian denominations with a combined ecumenical service in Sacred Heart Cathedral to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Year of Reformation.

This is a significant milestone for New Zealand Roman Catholic and Lutheran communities, signaling a commitment to ongoing dialogue.

Cardinal John commented "that this year as we mark this anniversary and remember through prayer with our sisters and brothers of the Lutheran Church it is a pleasure to announce on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference that we have initiated a formal dialogue with the Lutherans.

Over several years we have had dialogues with the Anglicans, Presbyterians and Methodists, those bi-lateral dialogues are now extended as we officially start working, praying and discussing with the Lutherans as we continue to work towards Christian Unity."

Bishop Mark Whitfield's comments echoed those of the Cardinal.

"I am delighted that we have opportunity in this Reformation Commemoration Year to celebrate our common baptism into Christ and to worship together.

"I also look forward to Roman Catholics and Lutherans working together to seek avenues of practical pastoral cooperation and support, and to explore joint worship and ecumenical hospitality for the sake of strengthening a joint witness to the Gospel in Aotearoa-New Zealand."

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has recently appointed Father Tom Rouse of the St Columban Mission Society to join Father James Lyons, parish priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral on the Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue commission.

The Lutheran Church of New Zealand representatives on the Dialogue will be Pastor Jim Pietsch and Dr Petrus Simons.

The service will take place at 3pm on Sunday, 4 June 2017 in the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Source

• Supplied
• Image: lcasynod.au/resources.stuff.co.nz/supplied

30 years ago an ecumenical covenant was established between four inner-city churches of Napier to forge a stronger Christian church for the city through working together.

The churches involve St Paul's Presbyterian Church, St Patrick's Catholic Church, Trinity Methodist Church, and the Waiapu Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. Continue reading

The project first saw the light of day in 1950, but it did not come to fruition because the Reverend Maurice Pirani, the vicar at the time, refused to allow the names of the Catholics to be included in the list of those honoured.

So the plans were shelved and forgotten, hidden away in the church's archives until 2010, when Margaret Blair came across them while she was sorting paperwork.

The heart rimu honours board has been made to the original 1950 design by David Kirkland.

It was funded by Plimmerton's St Theresa's Catholic Church, Porirua RSA, Pauatahanui Residents' Association, and families whose names are on the board.

Ruth Galloway, the daughter of one of the men honoured, said she was immensely proud to see the name of her father, Wallace Galloway, carved into the wood.

"It was very emotional for me and my brothers. I know my dad would have been proud his name was up there."

St Alban's Church,was built in 1898. It was the second church to be built in Pauatahanui.

The building is on the old site of the Matai Paua pa, that was built by Te Rangihaeata, the Ngati Toa leader in 1846.

St Joseph's Catholic Church in Pauatahanui was built in 1878.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• pauatahanui.org.nz

Image: stuff.co.nz

"But that for the moment this is what they all have to live with as they push towards full Christian Unity." he added

He was speaking on Vatican radio in an interview with Linda Bordoni while in Rome to receive his red cardinal's hat.

Ribat said full Christian unity is a "pathway that leads to lasting peace and friendship especially at this moment in history which is seeing so many divisions and conflicts."

He talked about his personal, very deep, experience of dialogue and sharing with other communions as he comes from a family where many of his relatives are from the Methodist tradition.

Ribat suggested that perhaps his ecumenical commitment is one of the reasons Pope Francis chose him to be part of the College of Cardinals.

Ribat is the chairman of the ecumenical movement in Papua New Guinea - to promote ecumenical dialogue in a region where a large percentage of the faithful belong to protestant denominations.

"While we are saying that the Catholic Church is the mother church, then we have to be true to our name and embrace all" he says.

Regarding other issues that he feels are particular challenges he is called to address, the cardinal spoke of the relationship his Bishops' Conference has with Muslims - who are a minority in his geographical area - but whom have been invited to share their concerns with representatives of other faiths in this very difficult time.

Listen to interview

Source

• radiovaticanican.va
• Image: the-star.co.ke

In an interview on Vatican Radio he said Anglican and Catholic parishes in New Zealand are already working together in many practical ways including support for refugees coming into the country.

At the recent IARCCUM meeting pairs of Anglican and Catholic bishops were sent out on mission together by the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dew asked whether bishops in each diocese could be encouraged to adopt this model, followed by Catholic and Anglican priests with their local communities.

Reflecting on the Pope's description of families in ‘Amoris Laetitia', where he pointed out that "no family drops down from heaven perfectly formed", Dew asked if we can apply this concept to the Christian family too.

Another area of discussion at the plenary has been what the cardinal calls the ‘ecumenism of humiliation' for churches dealing with the effects of clerical abuse scandals.

By facing such difficulties together and being "united in the cross", he says, we ask how it can enable us to journey more closely together?

Dew was being interviewed at the end of The plenary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity that concluded on Friday.

Source

• en.radiovaticana.va
• Image: anglicantaonga.org

The service marked the inductions of the new leadership team of the Fiji Council of Churches. (FCC)

The liturgy in the Methodist Centenary Church had been prepared by the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches.

Hymns, action songs, prayers and scripture readings were provided by other member churches of the Fiji Council of Churches.

Chong said that part of the vision of the Fiji Council of Churches was to establish unity among all the Christian churches in Fiji in order to be a prophetic voice in Fiji by embracing the values of the Kingdom of God.

He said the door was open to all Christian communities which confess the faith of the universal church in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

"We acknowledge that the life of faith to which they are called is a gift of the Holy Spirit continually received in word and sacrament and in the common life of God's people. We acknowledge the word of God in the Old and New testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as the supreme rule of faith and practice for all God's people."

He called on the leaders being inducted to ensure the council offered opportunities for theological reflection, prophetic action, collaborative mission and by fostering mutual understanding and respect among the Christian churches in Fiji, the Pacific and the World.

In the sermon, Reverend Amy Chambers, an Anglican priest of the Diocese of Polynesia and principal of the St John the Baptist Theological College, challenged the council in her message to work together as the body of Christ and speaking with one voice on issues confronting our country such as climate change and gender-based violence.

Those inducted were Reverend Dr Tevita Banivanua of the Methodist Church in Fiji, president, Major Uraia Dravikula of the Salvation Army vice-president, Reverend Bruce Edwards of the Fiji Community Churches of Christ, treasurer and Reverend Simione Tugi of the Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, general secretary.

Founded in 1963 the FCC is made up representative from Methodists, Catholics, Congregational Church of Samoa, Coptic Orthodox, Fiji Baptist Convention, Fiji Community Churches of Christ, Presbyterian and Salvation Army

Source

• fijitimes.com Reverend James Bhagwan is an ordained Methodist minister and a citizen journalist. The opinions expressed in the column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Methodist Church in Fiji or of the Fiji Times
• oikoumene.org
• Image: calnevumcfiji2011.files.wordpress.com

He said the relationship was "akin to an extended family."

Dew and Bishop Ross Bay, the Anglican bishop of Auckland have been representing New Zealand at meeting with Pope Francis, and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Bay said "The relationship we have is both liturgical and pastoral and extends to the work we do in civil society."

"We share our joys, sorrows and concerns for both our respective communities and wider society."

"This gathering is another historical and significant step in the relationship both at home in New Zealand and globally," he said.

Pairs of bishops from 19 different regions where Anglicans and Catholics live side by side in significant numbers were at the meeting.

They gathered on 30 September in Canterbury. On October 3 they moved to the Vatican.

The purpose of the meeting was to discover new ways for Roman Catholics and Anglicans to give greater witness to their common faith, and particularly how they can collaborate in mission to the world.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby commissioned the 36 bishops to take part in united mission in their local areas.

The commissioning and sending took place during Vespers led jointly by Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby, at the Church of Saint Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome.

This is the church from where Pope Gregory sent Augustine to evangelise the Anglo-Saxon people.

The service was one of the highlights of an ecumenical summit organised by Iarccum to mark the 50th anniversary of the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey in 1966.

That meeting was the first such public meeting between a Pope and an Archbishop of Canterbury since the Reformation.

Subsequently, Pope John Paul II with Archbishop Robert Runcie, and later with Archbishop George Carey.

Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan Williams prayed together in the Church of Saint Gregory.
Source

• Supplied
• anglicannews.org
• Image: Supplied