The Growing Together summit, known as the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), was held from 22-29 January in Rome and Canterbury.

Anglican Bishop Ross Bay and Catholic Bishop Michael Gielen represented New Zealand at the gathering.

Bay attended the last IARCCUM summit in 2016.

He said walking alongside Bishop Gielen, with whom he serves as a co-chair of the local New Zealand Anglican-Catholic dialogue, has opened up opportunities.

"As a result of being together here, I hope that we will grow in our commitment to express our unity in more tangible ways through our common mission."

Gielen says the rich history of IARCCUM inspires him.

"It has been a deep privilege to join with fellow bishops of our respective churches from around the world, hearing their stories and, in many cases, their profound challenges, while continuing to celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ we share."

The event culminated in a joint statement, Our Common Witness, Calling and Commitment.

The statement is a powerful call for unity and a joint mission, saying the churches need to emphasise the need to "walk together, pray together and seek justice together."

The bishops' statement reflects on the journey towards reconciliation that began almost six decades ago, acknowledging the Holy Spirit's role in bridging centuries of separation and conflict.

It highlights the progress made through theological dialogue and shared prayer, leading to a deep and profound connection, albeit not yet full communion.

The document outlines a vision for the future, urging both churches to explore further possibilities for collaboration, particularly in witness, friendship, mission, synodality and the prioritising of fraternity over structures.

The bishops place significant focus on mission with a call to address the needs of Indigenous Peoples, descendants of enslaved persons and those affected by colonisation and assimilation.

The environmental crisis was a key topic, with bishops from Amazonia sharing their experiences. The statement aligns with Pope Francis's Encyclical on the Environment, Laudato Si', and the Lambeth Call on the Environment advocating for the care of our common home.

This summit marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church, and serves as a beacon of unity in a divided world.

Sources

• IARRCUM
• Supplied

In an interview on Vatican Radio he said Anglican and Catholic parishes in New Zealand are already working together in many practical ways including support for refugees coming into the country.

At the recent IARCCUM meeting pairs of Anglican and Catholic bishops were sent out on mission together by the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dew asked whether bishops in each diocese could be encouraged to adopt this model, followed by Catholic and Anglican priests with their local communities.

Reflecting on the Pope's description of families in ‘Amoris Laetitia', where he pointed out that "no family drops down from heaven perfectly formed", Dew asked if we can apply this concept to the Christian family too.

Another area of discussion at the plenary has been what the cardinal calls the ‘ecumenism of humiliation' for churches dealing with the effects of clerical abuse scandals.

By facing such difficulties together and being "united in the cross", he says, we ask how it can enable us to journey more closely together?

Dew was being interviewed at the end of The plenary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity that concluded on Friday.

Source

• en.radiovaticana.va
• Image: anglicantaonga.org

He said the relationship was "akin to an extended family."

Dew and Bishop Ross Bay, the Anglican bishop of Auckland have been representing New Zealand at meeting with Pope Francis, and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Bay said "The relationship we have is both liturgical and pastoral and extends to the work we do in civil society."

"We share our joys, sorrows and concerns for both our respective communities and wider society."

"This gathering is another historical and significant step in the relationship both at home in New Zealand and globally," he said.

Pairs of bishops from 19 different regions where Anglicans and Catholics live side by side in significant numbers were at the meeting.

They gathered on 30 September in Canterbury. On October 3 they moved to the Vatican.

The purpose of the meeting was to discover new ways for Roman Catholics and Anglicans to give greater witness to their common faith, and particularly how they can collaborate in mission to the world.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby commissioned the 36 bishops to take part in united mission in their local areas.

The commissioning and sending took place during Vespers led jointly by Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby, at the Church of Saint Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome.

This is the church from where Pope Gregory sent Augustine to evangelise the Anglo-Saxon people.

The service was one of the highlights of an ecumenical summit organised by Iarccum to mark the 50th anniversary of the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey in 1966.

That meeting was the first such public meeting between a Pope and an Archbishop of Canterbury since the Reformation.

Subsequently, Pope John Paul II with Archbishop Robert Runcie, and later with Archbishop George Carey.

Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan Williams prayed together in the Church of Saint Gregory.
Source

• Supplied
• anglicannews.org
• Image: Supplied

Cardinal John will first go to Canterbury, in England where he will join the IARCCUM Pilgrims; 36 Anglican and Catholic bishops, representing 19 different regions.

The bishops will begin the first leg of their meeting on 30th September in Canterbury.

They will be staying at the Lodge in Canterbury Cathedral, will take part in the liturgical life of the Cathedral.

And they will make a pilgrim visit to the shrine of St Thomas à Becket, where Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Robert Runcie prayed together.

On October 3 the bishops move on to Rome and will be staying near the Vatican.

They will make a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles, Ss Peter and Paul.

They will then participate in the vespers celebrated by Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby at San Gregorio al Celio on 5th October, to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey.

At these vespers it is anticipated that the bishops will be mandated by Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby, in their ecumenical mission.

On the same day the bishops will attend an academic symposium at the Gregorian University.

"50 years of walking together in faith" is a symposium to be held Wednesday, 5 October 2016 at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

This symposium will be an opportunity to explore in detail some of the achievements of 50 years of dialogue between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

IARCCUM is a commission established by the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church as an official joint commission.

IARCCUM exists in parallel with the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, the theological commission known as ARCIC.

ARCIC is the Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission established by Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI in 1967.

Source

• iarccum.org
• Image: iarccum.org