2008

Thursday 3rd April 2008

Packed Cathedral Supports Historic Covenant

In a spontaneous standing ovation last night over 1000 people affirmed the signing of an historic covenant between the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle and the Catholic Dioceses of Maitland-Newcastle and Broken Bay. The signing took place within a moving ceremony at Newcastle’s Christ Church Anglican Cathedral.

While similar covenants have been signed between Anglican and Catholic churches at parish level, it is believed to be the first covenant between Anglican and Catholic Dioceses in Australia.

The congregation was called to prayer by the sound of the didgeridoo, followed by a smoking ceremony.

Recognising the reconciling elements of water and fire within Aboriginal culture and the centrality and commonality of baptism within the Anglican and Catholic traditions, Anglican Bishops Brian Farran and Graeme Rutherford (Diocese of Newcastle) and Catholic Bishops Michael Malone and David Walker (Dioceses of Maitland-Newcastle and Broken Bay) gathered with Aboriginal elders at the Baptismal font. They prayed over the water together, before sprinkling the congregation.

The Very Reverend Graeme Lawrence, Dean of Newcastle and Christ Church Cathedral welcomed the congregation to this “joyful and historic occasion”.

The preacher was Dominican Sister, Jenny Gerathy OP, who acknowledged both the honour and the nervousness she felt as she addressed the congregation.

“How timely this significant event should take place within the Easter season of our Church’s year – the time which offers so many signs of hope and new life. That time when we welcome new members into our churches through the gift of Baptism; the time when we ourselves are invited to reflect on what it means to be a baptised people, an Easter people.”

Sr Jenny compared the occasion of the signing of the covenant with the recent Earth Hour initiative. Just as last year Sydney had led the way with Earth Hour which has recently been taken up throughout Australia as well as internationally, Sr Jenny hopes that “tonight we lead the way, as we take this small but significant step which we hope will lead the way for others, locally and globally.”

“Our Covenant invites us into Relationship – with our God and with each other - beyond the signatures on the page ... The Covenant must take on flesh and bones and we the people of God are those flesh and bones.”

“Tonight is the night to let go of the wounds of the past, whatever they be, because of earlier divisions between our Churches,” Sr Jenny continued. “What a gift we are being offered! Tonight is the night to transfer all that is fearful into boldness of heart – for the kingdom.”

Representatives from each diocese presented the Bishops with a stole, a sign of their priestly office. As the stole was placed around each bishop’s neck, they were reminded that they serve Christ and Christ’s People. “May this stole carry one further remembrance for you: that you are pledged to pursue unity, peace and love among all God’s people.”

Vested in the stoles which they had just received, the bishops moved to stand behind the altar to receive the gifts of bread and wine, brought forward by two young families from the Catholic and Anglican traditions.

The bishops received the gifts and placed them on the altar, before walking away in silence. Bishop Michael Malone described this as a very poignant moment: “A didgeridoo lament was played, to show the sadness of our inability to share in the Eucharist at this point.”

Students from St Mary’s Campus All Saints College ‘danced’ the copies of the Covenant to the altar for signing by the bishops and other representatives of each diocese. The Covenant commits the three dioceses to a series of joint initiatives ranging from an annual Bishops’ Dialogue to the exploration of possibilities for the sharing of church resources. It was co-signed by clergy and lay representatives from each diocese and copies were given to each parish.

In the words of Dean Graeme Lawrence, “Acknowledging those things that still separate us, but recognising that what unites is far greater than what divides, we, the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle come together to enter into a Covenant relationship that we hope will help to build that unity which Christ desires for all his Church.”

Read Sr Jenny Gerathy OP's Homily from the Liturgical Signing of the Covenant

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