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Week One

Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to get to know each other and to discuss our responsibility to promote Christian unity (pp.1-2a of A People Made One).

Opening Prayer: For our opening prayer we will read aloud a passage from Scripture and a quotation from A People Made One. After a time of silent reflection each person is invited to respond to the questions: What word or phrase stands out for you in these readings? Why?

Scripture: Read John 17:20-21

A People Made One: "The Catholic Church embraces with hope the commitment to ecumenism as a duty of the Christian conscience enlightened by faith and guided by love."

Getting to Know Each Other: Each person has come to this discussion with a unique history. Invite each person in the group to introduce him/her self. In addition to the usual information (name, short personal history) share with each other your denominational background, were you raised in a religious tradition? Is your family circle of one tradition? What events in your history formed your present attitudes toward other Christian traditions? Have divisions among Christians caused you pain?

Discussion Topic: Our Responsibility to Promote Christian Unity

What harm do you think has been caused by the divisions among

Christians?

Do you believe that Jesus wants his followers to be united? Why?

Do you agree that all baptized people are called to commit themselves to the search for unity? Has your parish responded to this call in the past? Have you as an individual responded to the call? Do you want to? What might you/your parish do to respond to this call?

Arrangements for Next Meeting: Time? Place? Refreshments? Leader? Does anyone have requests or suggestions about how we might enhance our time together?

Closing Prayer: Reread the passage from John and the passage from A People Made One with which you began the meeting. Invite people to offer petitions or prayers of thanksgiving. All respond with the words: "Lord, hear our prayer." Conclude by praying together: "Loving God, you have made all followers of Jesus Christ one through baptism. We are A People Made One. We know that you want us to be one around the eucharistic table. Help us to walk in faith, hope, and love with you and with each other so that the unity which you desire becomes a reality. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

Week Two

Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is discuss the areas of ecumenical growth and change which the Roman Catholic Church, and we as individuals, have experienced in our life time (see pp. 2b-5 of A People Made One).

Opening Prayer: For our opening prayer we will read aloud a passage from Scripture and a quotation from A People Made One. After a time of silent reflection each person is invited to respond to the questions: What word or phrase stands out for you in these readings? Why?

Scripture: Read Acts 10:24-35

A People Made One: "Now Catholics are encouraged to acknowledge and reverence the gifts of Christ to his church in whatever Christian communities they may be found... It is acknowledged that those not in full unity or communion with the Catholic Church do, nonetheless, enjoy many of the gifts of the Church."

Discussion Topic: The Areas of Ecumenical Growth and Change which the Roman Catholic Church, and We as Individuals, have Experienced in our Life Time Did some of your religious education take place before the Second Vatican Council? Do you have personal recollections of what A People Made One refers to as an "ecumenism of return" If so, how did this ecumenical posture affect your relationships with friends, relatives, spouse, etc.?

What unspoken presumptions behind an "ecumenism of return" would make this posture a block rather than a step toward unity among Christians? Do you have close personal relationships with Christians who are not Roman Catholic? Do you have a lot in common with these friends? Would you describe yourselves as belonging to the same church or different churches? Why?

Is there anyone on earth whom you know who is wise enough to agree with you on everything? Is there a difference between lack of agreement on core ideas and values, and lack of agreement on less important matters? How do these questions relate to what A People Made One refers to as "degrees of communion?"

Can you envision a unity among Christian churches which does not involve complete structural unity and loss of identity? What models of unity already exist which might spur our thinking in this regard? Are you familiar with any of the resources listed in A People Made One as recent accomplishments of the ecumenical movement? If so, what is your acquaintance with this document? If not, does this fact lead you to any conclusions about the Church's success in calling us to a commitment to ecumenism?

A People Made One reminds us that we are "urged to interact and cooperate with other Christians and members of other religious traditions to the fullest extent possible, stopping only at the point where going further would compromise Catholic beliefs and practice." Do you think your parish, or you personally, are doing this? If we were, what forms do you think our cooperation would take?

Arrangements for Next Meeting: Time? Place? Refreshments? Leader? Does anyone have requests or suggestions about how we might enhance our time together?

Closing Prayer: Reread the passage from Acts and the passage from A People Made One with which you began the meeting. Invite people to offer petitions or prayers of thanksgiving. All respond with the words, "Lord, hear our prayer." Conclude by praying together, "Loving God, you have made all followers of Jesus Christ one through baptism. We are A People Made One. We know that you want us to be one around the eucharistic table. Help us to walk in faith, hope, and love with you and with each other so that the unity which you desire becomes a reality. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

Week Three

Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to discuss spiritual ecumenism and our need to repent (pp. 6-9a of A People Made One).

Opening Prayer: For our opening prayer we will read aloud a passage from Scripture and a quotation from A People Made One. After a time of silent reflection each person is invited to respond to the questions: What word or phrase stands out for you in these readings? Why?

Scripture: Read Luke 18:9-14

A People Made One: There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion.

Discussion Topic: Spiritual Ecumenism and Our Need to Repent

Do you agree that a change of heart, holiness of life, and public and private prayer for the unity of Christians are necessary components for meaningful ecumenism? Can you think of additional necessary components? What point is being made by calling this "spiritual ecumenism?"

Based on your own experience, do you think the Roman Catholic tradition has sinned against ecumenism? How? Were you taught prejudices against other Christians? Did this teaching result in your acting in ways which you now regret? Have you been the object of religious prejudice? What ramifications did such prejudice have in your life?

What do you think are the greatest gifts which the Roman Catholic tradition has given you? Are these gifts specific to the Roman Catholic tradition? As you become acquainted with other Christian traditions do you recognize strengths in them which Roman Catholics might experience as gifts? What are they?

Have you ever been positive you were right, and then in hindsight realized you were wrong? What caused you to see things differently? If two people who disagree are each positive they are right is there any reason for them to be in dialogue? Why does ecumenical dialogue depend on "being surprised by the Spirit?"

Have you ever lived in an area where Roman Catholics were in the majority? What were the positives and negatives of this experience from an ecumenical point of view? Have you been the minority? What were the positives and negatives in this setting? Did you form ecumenical ties? How?

Do you have personal experience of a religiously diverse marriage‹your own or someone close to you? What have been the positives and negatives of such a marriage from an ecumenical point of view? Do you think that a loving, religiously diverse marriage in which each person knows his or her own tradition, supports the other in his or her tradition, and does everything together in the practice of religion except when the policies and practices of their individual churches prevent this has anything to teach us about ecumenism? What can the church learn from such a couple?

Would you regard a couple who lives a religiously diverse marriage as described above as being in spiritual communion with each other? What ramifications does such a belief have for our understanding of unity among churches?

Arrangements for Next Meeting: Time? Place? Refreshments? Leader? Does anyone have requests or suggestions about how we might enhance our time together?

Closing Prayer: Reread the passage from Luke and the passage from A People Made One with which you began the meeting. Invite people to offer petitions or prayers of thanksgiving. All respond with the words: "Lord hear our prayer." Conclude by praying together: "Loving God, you have made all followers of Jesus Christ one through baptism. We are A People Made One. We know that you want us to be one around the eucharistic table. Help us to walk in faith, hope, and love with you and with each other so that the unity which you desire becomes a reality. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

Week Four

Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to decide how we can continue to respond to the call for ecumenical commitment (pp.9b-12 of A People Made One).

Opening Prayer: For our opening prayer we will read aloud a passage from Scripture and a quotation from A People Made One. After a time of silent reflection each person is invited to respond to the questions: What word or phrase stands out for you in these readings? Why?

Scripture: Read Ephesians 4:1-7

A People Made One: "The ecumenical movement... has continued to flourish... Without doubt this is the work of the Holy Spirit. That being the case, there is very good reason to expect the healing of long standing divisions during the third millennium."

Discussion Topic: How Can We Continue to Respond to the Call for Ecumenical Commitment?

Do you desire Christian unity? Why? Do you think unity can be hastened by compromising our beliefs? If compromising our beliefs is not the answer, what is? Personal holiness is a prerequisite for ecumenism. What do you do routinely to try to grow in personal holiness? Does your parish promote spiritual renewal? How?

Do you know your religious neighbors? How do you reach out to them? How might you reach out to them?

Have you participated in any ecumenical dialogues? In any ecumenical organizations? What dialogues and organizations are available to you? What could you do to support the work of such groups?

Are you involved in any ecumenical social action? What? What groups in your parish or community are involved in ecumenical social action? What could you to support the work of such groups?

Do you pray for church unity? Is a prayer for church unity included in your parish's Sunday petitions? Does your parish promote ecumenical prayer occasions? What might you do to see that your parish does these things?

Do you believe that unity is a gift of the Holy Spirit? Are you hopeful that the blocks which we human beings have put in the way of unity can be overcome? On what do you base your hope?

Closing Prayer: Reread the passage from Ephesians and from A People Made One with which you began the meeting. In addition to inviting people to offer petitions and prayers of thanksgiving, invite anyone who wishes to make a commitment to some action which is responsive to our ongoing call to work for church unity. All respond with the words, "Lord, hear our prayer." Conclude by praying together: "Loving God, you have made all followers of Jesus Christ one through baptism. We are A People Made One. Help us to desire unity more and more. Give us the wisdom, strength, energy, and courage to think and act in ways that promote church unity. We know that you want us to be one around the eucharistic table. Help us to walk in faith, hope, and love with you and with each other so that the unity which you desire becomes a reality. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

Catholic Conference of Kentucky

1042 Burlington Lane

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

502-875-4345 502-875-2841 Fax cckstaffATccky.org

Last modified: April, 2008