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What is the National Commission for Ecumenism? Introduction Aims To facilitate two-way communication between the Commission and the dioceses To help raise the profile of, understanding of and enthusiasm for ecumenism within New Zealand Selection – Commission recommends, Catholic Bishops Conference appoints Currently:
Current Tasks Support the Bilateral Dialogues Share resources with liaison people and hence the dioceses Receive reports from the liaison people on Ecumenism in their diocese Organise conferences/visits, for example the 2001 conference for Catholics involved in Ecumenism at diocesan level and the 2002 visit of Cardinal Cassidy, the retired President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Attend, and at times help to organise, more general conferences, for example, in 2003, the Orientale Lumen Conference, the Diocesan Commissions Conference in Australia and the Disability, Spirituality and Faith Conference in Wellington Adapt the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity material for NZ use Update on a regular basis the guidelines for Catholics involved in ecumenism When meeting in a place other than Wellington, meet with those who work in ecumenism in that place either in a meeting or a workshop Be prepared to provide a workshop on ecumenism either at diocesan or parish level when invited and as Commission members’ commitments allow Initiation and now maintenance of the Commission website Other tasks as required by the Bishops Conference Contact with other Churches Since the Roman Catholic Church withdrew from CCANZ regular contact was kept up with the body mainly through the previous General Secretary, Michael Earle. Members of the Commission also attended the ecumenical receptions, which preceded CCANZ Forum and Executive meetings, participated in the 2001 conference on Evangelism and in the meeting in 2003 of those from the Churches involved in Ecumenism at a national level. Members of the Commission often also attend major functions of other Churches, for example the 2003 Methodist Conference and the enthronement of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan, also in 2003 The More General Picture Catholics continue to be represented on other ecumenical bodies and agencies such as:
Ecumenical Worship Services are arranged in many centres especially on Ash Wednesday, in Advent and during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. A very successful service was held in Palmerston North Cathedral on the same day as the service held by Pope John Paul II in Assisi. Representatives of the Jewish, Islamic and Hindu communities were present as well as those of the mainstream Protestant Churches and the Greek Orthodox Church. There were a number of Ecumenical Jubilee events in the year 2000, for example: Christmas in the Heartland in Hamilton, a pilgrimage to Rangiaowhia with the Anglican and Maori communities and an event at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington which was very successful and received good TV coverage. A number of Catholics attended the recent First National Interfaith Forum in Wellington and also participate in regional Interfaith Forums. Members of the Commission are involved in their own right in a number of these more general events and organisations and report on their overall ecumenical involvement at commission meetings.
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