Southern Nebraska Register
All are invited to a “Catholic Ecumenism Workshop” Saturday, Dec. 7 at St. Michael Church, 9101 S. 78th St., Lincoln.
The event, held from 9 to 10:30 a.m., will be hosted by “More Mercy,” a lay initiative in the Diocese of Lincoln.
The workshop aims to explore the vision for the Gospel, answering, “Why is the movement toward unity among Christians central to the Gospel message?” It will then expand Catholic principles of ecumenism: “What does the Catholic Church teach regarding the efforts to restore unity among all Christians?” And organizers will offer practical steps Catholics can take: “How do we pursue Truth together in a way that is not combative? How can we deepen the real – though imperfect – communion that exists?”
The workshop is free and intended for Catholics who desire to heal divisions among the Body of Christ. Food will be provided for participants.
More Mercy is a lay initiative founded by Max Chapman, who served as a missionary with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) at UNL for seven years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The initiative, with its goal to “Restore Christian unity through Truth and Love” has the full support of Bishop James Conley.
He recalled that in the High Priestly Prayer of Christ in the Gospel of John, Jesus prayed in a particular way that “they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me” (John 17: 21).
“Unity amongst the followers of Christ was deep in our Lord’s heart the night before he gave his life for us,” the bishop said, “and we as Christians are called to work with the same fervor towards unity.”
Learn more or contact the initiative at moremercylincoln.org.
