Read the brochure on Sacramental Sharing
english | français

Read the Bishop's letter on sacramental sharing. english | français
[Dec. 16, 2007]

Commission for Ecumenism

Meaning of Ecumenism

The spirit of ecumenism calls us beyond simple co-operation among different denominations. The word 'ecumenism' itself comes from the Greek oikoumene, a Biblical word referring to God's whole created order, 'the earth and its fullness' (Ps.24). Ecumenism is the commitment to the search for the fullness and unity God intended for creation.

It calls us to name what we believe in common and to celebrate that common faith, as well as to name our differences and to work to overcome obstacles to a united witness to Jesus Christ.

The Roman Catholic vision of ecumenism is founded on the will of Christ and the shared communion of all Christians through Baptism. The 'soul of the whole ecumenical movement', is a 'change of heart' and 'holiness of life' along 'with public and private prayer'. These three together are called spiritual ecumenism' by the second Vatican Council. (Decree on ecumenism #8)

"There is one body and one spirit - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all". Eph.4;4-5

"The Catholic Church embraces with hope the commitment to ecumenism as a duty for the Christian conscience enlightened by faith and guided by love.... This unity which the Lord Jesus has bestowed on his church and in which he wishes to embrace all peoples, is not something added on, but stands at the very heart of Christ's mission. Nor is it some secondary attribute of the community of his disciples. Rather, it belongs to the very essence of this community. God wills the Church, because he wills unity, and unity is an expression of the whole depth of his "agape." (Ut Unum Sint). Encyclical of Pope John Paul II.

History of Ecumenism in the Diocese of Saskatoon

Ecumenical cooperation is not new to the diocese. We have a rich experience in ecumenical relationships. Our social, political and spiritual development, although not without strife and tensions has been marked by a tone of cooperation. For generations we have seen goodness in our neighbours from many backgrounds, who have worked together to build many caring communities. This grassroots experience, at times unnamed and unknown as ecumenism, has led to the formation of many Ministerial Associations, Council of Churches and Ad Hoc Committees to enrich our experience of church. The Diocese has participated and often taken the lead in these endeavours. This leadership was shown in the formation of the Saskatoon Centre for Ecumenism (SCE).

The SCE was established in 1984 as the ecumenical office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. Our Diocese was enriched by the commitment and ecumenical wisdom of Fr. Bernard de Margerie. Bishop James Mahoney entrusted Fr. de Margerie with the full time ministry in Ecumenism that enabled Bernard to become the founding Director of the Saskatoon Centre for Ecumenism. The Constitution of the Centre describes the Centre's mandate as to call the churches to the goal of visible reconciliation and unity for the world's sake, expressed in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship in Christ.

The Constitution also indicates that the establishment of the Centre corresponds to the common will of the partner churches to move forward together on the road of Christian renewal, reconciliation and unity. We do so in a spirit of faithfulness and obedience to the Gospel.

From its founding, the Centre has had a Board of Directors drawn from the various churches in Saskatoon. In 1988, recognizing that an appropriate level of maturity had been achieved, the decision was taken to move to a broader sponsorship. The Local Church Leaders' Group, a regular gathering of the senior leaders of the churches of Saskatoon, approved the revised Constitution of the Centre, and asked the churches of Saskatoon to determine whether they were prepared to sponsor the Centre and provide it with both financial and prayer support.

The Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian and United churches, as well as the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy, joined with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon in sponsorship of the new ecumenical enterprise. The centre is now known as the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.

Saskatoon Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism (SDCE)

In 2000 Ken Saunders was appointed Ecumenical Officer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon and the Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism was reestablished. Following the resignation of Ken Saunders for family reasons in 2004, Michael Paynter was appointed Ecumenical Officer for the diocese.

Mandate

The role of the Ecumenical Officer and the Commission for Ecumenism is outlined in the  Directory for the application of principles and norms on ecumenism.

The Saskatoon Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism undertakes to be guided by: The documents from Rome, especially the Decree on Ecumenism, The Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, By the instructions from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops http://www.cccb.ca, and the Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and by the Terms of Reference of the Diocese.

In the practice of the Catholic Church's commitment to ecumenism in the Diocese of Saskatoon the SDCE further undertakes:

• to recognize that many ecumenical relationships have been developed over the years,
• to realize that the focus of the SDCE is with Catholics of the diocese of Saskatoon,
• to become aware and supportive of other ecumenical and inter faith activities,
• to encourage ecumenically active individuals to be more "intentional" about their participation; to see it as part of the ecumenical movement.

Members

The members of the Commission for Ecumenism are Angeline Fleischfresser, Kay MacDonald,  Michael Paynter (Ecumenical Officer), Carol Pek, Fr. Marvin Lischynsky, Margot Taylor, Joan Eyolfson-Cadman.

The Web page for the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism provides an outstanding list and texts for thousands of documents. They have been subdivided into categories to help find the documents, statements and articles that are becoming a rich tradition in ecumenical teaching, practices and reflections.

Roman Catholic documents have varying levels of authority. Documents from Ecumenical Councils have the highest level of authority. (Scripture is not normally considered a Church Document).

The next level in the hierarchy of authority is documents that flow directly from Conciliar decisions, such as the Code of Canon Law. Also Directories that give practical application to the principles of Councils, e.g. the Liturgical Directory on Worship and Sacraments and the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism.

Papal encyclicals are the next level of authority and are used to address current issues and explain the Catholic Church's teaching on these issues. The next level of authority is Declarations published from the various offices of the Vatican, such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

What level of authority do agreed statements and common declarations have in the Roman Catholic Church? (E.g. the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification) This question has not yet been clarified. It seems that these types of church documents do not have a known status in the ordinary magisterium, or teaching authority, of the Roman Catholic Church. To view click Document.

Sacramental Sharing

Saskatoon Bishop's letter on sacramental sharing. english | français [Dec. 16, 2007]

Many ecumenical relationships have been developed throughout the Diocese. An inventory of the known ones are listed below and divided in to Saskatoon Urban Groups and Rural Groups for Ecumenical Cooperation.

Saskatoon Urban Groups

Saskatoon Council of Churches

MISSION STATEMENT
1. To provide a means by which the member Communions together may proclaim the Gospel  through common witness and service.
2. To offer the member Communions a forum for discussion of matters of mutual interest.
3. To sponsor, encourage, promote and support all ecumenical activities among the member  Communions.
4. To encourage dialogue with other faith communities
Contact person: Joan Brown (president) 373-1753

Saskatoon Inner City Council of Churches

Members:
First Baptist Church   First Mennonite Church
Knox United Church   St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
St. John's Anglican Cathedral  St. Paul's Catholic Cathedral
St. Thomas Wesley United  Third Avenue United
Salvation Army    Zion Lutheran Church
 Contact person: Ivan Wilson 244-0159
North End Group
Congregations
 Meewasin United Church  Resurrection Lutheran Church
 St. Anne's Catholic Church
 Contact person - Margot Taylor 665-6371

Nutana

Congregations:
 All Saints Anglican Church Augustana Lutheran Church
 Grace-Westminster United Our Lady of Lourdes
 Second Street United Church St. Francis Catholic Church
 St. James Anglican Church St. Joseph's Catholic Church
 Contact person-

Nutana Park Group

Congregations:
 Bethel United Church  Calvin-Goforth Presbyterian Church
 Our Lady of Lourdes  Nutana Park Mennonite Church
 Redeemer Lutheran Church St. Martin's United Church
 St. Philip Neri Church  St. Stephen's Anglican Church
 St. Timothy's Anglican Church
 Contact person: Ken Saunders 343-8630

South East Saskatoon Group

Congregations:
Calvary Church
Circle Drive Alliance Church
College Park Covenant Church
Elim Tabernacle
Emannuel Baptist Church Faith Evangelical Lutheran
First Church of Christ   Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Holy Spirit Parish   Lakeview Free Methodist Church
Lakewood Baptist Church   Louise Avenue Community Church
McClure United Church   McKercher Drive Presbyterian Church
Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren St. Augustine Catholic Church
St. Stephen's Anglican Church  Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Wildwood Mennonite Church
Contact person: Carol Pek 373-3790

Sutherland Group

Congregations:
Holy Family Parish  St. Matthew's Anglican Church
St. Paul's United Church
Contact person -

West Side Group

Christ Church Anglican  Holy Trinity Anglican
Mayfair United Church  St. Mary's Catholic Church
St.Thomas-Wesley United  Trinity Lutheran Church
Contact person: Velma Stevenson 244-7676

Rural Groups for Ecumenical Cooperation

Davidson Interchurch Association

Eastonia Ministerial Association

Eston Ministerial Ministerial Association

Humboldt and District Ministerial Association

Kenaston Interchurch Association

Kindersley & District Ministerial Association

Lanigan Ministerial Association

Leader and District Ministerial Association

Luseland Ministerial Association & Bible Study Group

Outlook Ministerial Association

Rose Valley Group

Unity Ministerial Association

Wadena Group

Interfaith

Ecumenism is also about inter faith. The Second Vatican Council signaled a new openness to, and appreciation of, other world faiths. "The many religions are the 'many reflections of the one truth', 'seeds of the Word', attesting that though the routes taken may be different, there is but a single goal.. a quest for God and...the full meaning of human life." (John Paul II)

Faith Community Centres in Saskatoon

Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam - (306) 664-4722
Bahá'í Faith - (306)244-5166
Chanh Tam Temple (Buddhist) - (306) 978-0085
Congregation Agudas Israel - (306) 343-7023
Doukhobor Society - (306) 244-7209
Hindu Society - (306) 933-4041
Islamic Centre - (306) 665-6424
Shir Chadash Congregation (Jewish) - (306) 242-3756
Sikh Society - (306) 653-4514
Society of Friends (Quakers) - (306) 653-2402
Unitarian Congregation - (306) 653-2402
Urban First Nations Healing Initiative - (306) 242-9658

Activities

A brochure outlining the work of the Commission has been published and a copy mailed to all parishes in the diocese. "Prayer for an Ecumenical Heart" prayer cards have also been produced. Brochures and prayer cards are available by contacting the Commission. Contact person is Michael Paynter, 309 - 525 - 5th Avenue North, Saskatoon, S7K 2R1, phone: (306) 382-1255 or email: michlou@sasktel.net.

Following two years of work by the Commission, on January 31, 2005 Bishop LeGatt promulgated the Policy on "Sacramental Sharing in particular circumstances between Catholics and Baptized Christians of other Denominations." In addition to the policy, a brochure entitled "Pastoral Directives for Sacramental Sharing" has also been produced and distributed to all parishes in the diocese.

Documents

Prayer

The Ecumenical journey is nurtured by prayer that is fervent, frequent and regular, private and public. Please pray for reconciliation and unity. This prayer on the Prayer Card has been prepared for use in the Diocese.

The Ecumenical journey is nurtured by prayer that is fervent, frequent and regular, private and public. Please pray for reconciliation and unity. You are invited to use the following Prayer link.

Dialogues in Canada

Dialogues among the Christian denominations have been taking place for many years, both in Canada and internationally.

Related Links

Upcoming Events