Ecumenism at St Dominic's

A commitment to ecumenism at St Dominic’s Parish

Christ prayed in his farewell discourse that ‘all may be one’ (John 17:21). As part of our commitment to ecumenism at St Dominic’s, we are a member of the Canterbury Council of Churches, and we participate in a number of ecumenical activities.

At St Dominic’s we pray each week for one of our fraternal congregations within the Canterbury Council of Churches, as outlined in The Dominican. We pray in particular over November and December 2022 for the community at Highfield Road Uniting Church, Canterbury .

For more information, or for further engagement on any aspect of ecumenism at St Dominic’s, please feel free to contact Parish Priest Fr Paul or one of our representatives on the Canterbury Council of Churches, Cathie Sheehan - tel 0417 893 605 – or Denis Fitzgerald – tel 0418 136 372.

Vespers on Pentecost Sunday, 28 May 2023

Parishioners from across the Canterbury Council of Churches braved a challenging Autumn evening to respond to an invitation to join St Dominic's parishioners and the Dominican Friars for Vespers on Pentecost Sunday, 28 May, followed by a cuppa in the parish centre.
As one of our visitors, Alan Ray from Highfield Road Uniting Church, related in relation to the evening:
'Thanks to Fr Paul Rowse and the friars at St Dominic's for an evening to experience Dominican spirituality during Vespers that was celebrated at the time the disciples received the Holy Spirit [John 20: 19 – 23]. The evening illustrated the text: That they all may be one. The reading from Ephesians 4: 3 – 6 was most appropriate for our witness to the world.’

Stations of the Cross in 2023 - undaunted by the rain!

Despite the threatening skies, the Canterbury Council of Churches 'Stations of the Cross' proceeded well on Good Friday, 7 April. There was a crowd of about 120 people who walked around the oval praying, singing and listening to the Gospel at each of the 14 stations. The rain started at the 13th station, but we managed to complete the liturgy! It was uplifting to see so many people from different denominations proclaiming the faith in such a public way.

World Day of Prayer, 3 March 2023

Thanks to all who joined us to mark the World Day of Prayer, on Friday 3 March at St Dominic's Church. As one participant noted:
"The service was meaningful and uplifting. I felt that we could empathize in the life challenges of the women of Taiwan. On any news broadcast, it is only the international politics of such countries which are described. The buzz of conversation over morning tea was great, as guests met old friends and made new contacts. In our discussions, we realized that we shared so many things in common as we all sought to serve our Lord."

Christmas carols in Canterbury in 2022

Carols in Canterbury went off well on Sunday 11 December, as the photos indicate.

These carols are now in their 20th year, and planning starts soon for 2024! Follow these carols on https://www.facebook.com/carolsincanterburygardens

Carols in Maling Road were held this year on Saturday 17 December at 11.30am. They went well.

Canterbury Council of Churches Winter Breakfast

Thanks to Fr Frank Brennan sj for his presentation on 'The Christian Churches and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine' at the Canterbury Council of Churches' winter breakfast on 30 July 2022 - see two photos below.
Click here to listen to his presentation, and click here to read a summary.

A Christian Prayer for Unity

The 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is from 29 May – 5 June, from Ascension Day to Pentecost.

One only Holy Spirit of Father and Son in whom all are baptized,
one giver of many gifts, one tree of many fruits
one speaker of every tongue, renew in our day the wonders of Pentecost,
grant that people of every race and nation may understand one another, and as one,
proclaim the praises of God.
Grant that all may be one as you, Spirit, with the Father and the Son are one God, one Lord.
Grant unity to the Body of Christ; grant unity to the human family.
Sole breath of every living thing, may all be one who, in you, live and move and have their being.
Carl K. Moeddel, from Jesuit Resources,
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 - NCCA
“We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship (cf Matthew 2:2)

Good Friday - Stations of the Cross - 15 April 2022

Each Good Friday St Dominic's and the other members of the Canterbury Council of Churches join in prayer around the Stations of the Cross at midday at Highfield Park, cnr of Highfield Rd and Riversdale Rd East Camberwell.
We gathered again on 15 April 2022 to remember the sacrifice of the Cross. The gentle autumn breeze and the screech of cockatoos added to the occasion. Hot Cross Buns and an Easter egg hunt rounded off the liturgy.

Christmas 2021 across the Canterbury Council of Churches

Each generation proclaims the Gospel in ways relevant to their time. John Wesley preached in the open air, the early Salvation Army drew crowds with their brass band parades through the streets, and later evangelists used radio and television.

St Dominic's this year joined in the Canterbury Council of Churches production of a video of Christmas Blessings. Fr Peter joined the ministers from other member churches in delivering a brief seasonal message with a soundtrack of carols from the Tongan congregation. This replaces the longstanding Carols in the Park which was cancelled due to COVID difficulties. Many thanks to Rev. Stephen Field of the Canterbury Baptist church for an engaging video presentation.

We also joined in a carol session at Theatre Place, Maling Road, on 18 December, the Saturday morning before Christmas. On a bright summers morning, singers and bystanders alike were transported to the promises of the Christmas season. Click here for an enjoyable video rendition of Joy to the World.

Upcoming Ecumenical events

Winter breakfast
Saturday 30 July, at St Dominic's Parish Centre,
Guest speaker: Fr Frank Brennan sj
Enquiries and bookings: Lyn on 9888 5549

Mental Health Liturgy
Sunday 11th September 2022 at 7.00, p.m.
at Highfield Road Uniting Church, cnr Highfield and Prospect Hill Roads Canterbury

Stable One: caring for homeless people in winter months

On 5 October 2021 Jenny Willetts, Managing Director and founder of Stable One, spoke at the Canterbury Council of Churches Zoom forum. Jenny inspired listeners as she outlined how Stable One has developed the ‘winter shelter’ model in Victoria, under which local churches in a particular area work together to offer accommodation and hospitality, making a practical difference at the coldest time of year. Yarra Ranges, Mitcham, Whitehorse and Bendigo are among the centres now operating – www.stableone.org

Christ prayed in his farewell discourse that ‘all may be one’ (John 17:21). As part of our commitment to ecumenism at St Dominic’s, we are a member of the Canterbury Council of Churches, and we participate in a number of ecumenical activities. This involvement has its roots in the scriptures, and responds to the teachings of the Church. It is now 25 years since Pope John Paul II wrote his Encyclical Letter on ecumenism, Ut Unum Sint. In marking that anniversary, on 24 May 2020 Pope Francis' reflections on the broad endeavour 'that all may be one' included the following:

On this anniversary, I thank the Lord for the journey that he has allowed us to take as Christians in search of full communion… my thoughts go to my beloved Brothers placed at the head of the various Christian Churches and Communities; and it extends to all the brothers and sisters of every Christian tradition who are our traveling companions. Like the disciples of Emmaus, we can feel the presence of the risen Christ who walks beside us and explains the Scriptures to us and recognizes him in the fraction of the bread, waiting to share the Eucharistic table together....
Let us therefore confidently invoke the Spirit, so that he may guide our steps and each one hear with renewed vigor the appeal to work for the ecumenical cause; He inspires new prophetic gestures and strengthens fraternal charity among all the disciples of Christ, "so that the world may believe" ( Jn 17:21) and praise be multiplied to the Father who is in Heaven.

This commitment also builds on activity at St Dominic’s over recent decades.

Through the Canterbury Council of Churches we have engaged in a wide range of regular shared, including:· -

the Good Friday service in Highfield Park
Canterbury Christmas carols
an annual breakfast
a weekly prayer gathering of pastoral leaders
celebrating the world day of prayer for ecumenism.

Sharing with the Canterbury Council of Churches on Asylum Seeker Support

Representatives of the St Dominic’s Welcome the Stranger group met with several members of the Canterbury Council of Churches on 24 November 2020 to share their experience in responding to the needs of asylum seekers. All recognised the same Gospel-inspired commitment to welcome the stranger, and all benefited from this shared reflection on their own endeavours. For a report of the meeting, click here.