1998

9th June 1998
Service of Prayer for Anglican and Roman Catholic Reconciliation
Anglicans and Roman Catholics, the two largest Christian communities in Australia , have been encouraged to pray together for deeper unity through special services of reconciliation across the country in June.

Roman Catholic Bishop Michael Malone and Anglican Bishop Roger Herft, along with members of both their communities, will gather to pray for a greater spirit of unity and reconciliation during a service at Hamilton 's Sacred Heart Cathedral tomorrow evening (Wednesday June 10).

In a recent letter to all Anglican and Roman Catholic parishioners in the Newcastle , Hunter and Manning areas Bishop Malone and Bishop Herft said: "We bishops are quite aware of past and present differences between our two communities. We are, likewise, aware of ever increasing respect between us, together with an expressed desire to understand one another better and to keep on praying and working for reconciliation."

The service of prayer for reconciliation is an initiative of AUSTARC (Australian Anglican Roman Catholic Conversation), a dialogue group established by Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in 1993. AUSTARC recognises that at the local level personal contact and prayer are the engines that keep ecumenism alive. Its mission is to encourage theological reflection, prayer and personal encounter between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

Services across Australia will take place on or near the religious feast day common to both communities, the Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs (June 3). This feast is significant for both religious traditions because on that day in 1886, 31 Christians, both Anglicans and Catholics, were burnt to death because they were Christians. Later other Christians were hunted down and killed.

According to Bishops Michael Malone and Roger Herft, "Their witness reminds us that the blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the church and that unity will never come without cost."

Bishops Michael Malone and Roger Herft encourage all members of the Newcastle , Hunter and Manning Christian communities to participate in this important Service of Prayer for Anglican and Roman Catholic Reconciliation.

The Service will commence at 7pm. The Sacred Heart Cathedral is located at 841 Hunter Street Newcastle West. All media are invited to attend.

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