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 Journal Number One - Autumn 1994
Living the Catholic MysteryOn June 1-4, more than 100 persons gathered at the Center for Development in Ministry at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois, to reflect on the meaning of Living the Catholic Mystery. We came from places ranging from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, from Santa Rosa, CA to Vails Gate, NY. We were a wonderful mixture - a new bishop from Kentucky, a retired priest from Alaska, religious, seminary professors and seminarians, parish priests, deacons, lay professionals, active parish members, grayheaded to young adults. We came into an atmosphere of prayer and quiet, and kept silence for the first day and a half of our meeting. The Rt Revd Rowan Williams, Bishop of Monmouth, asked us, in his three addresses, to consider living sacramentally. He spoke of "the mystery of God's desire to make a new humanity. He talked of Baptism as the cornerstone of the Church, and called us "to see in each other not a threat, not a rival, but the creation of God..." He urged us to live baptismally - "in readiness to have our images of God tested, to find God in our depths, to see and hear the Word in each other" and eucharistically "where welcome becomes formative, witnessing to the God who welcomes." Worship framed all elements of the conference; many were grateful for the simple form of Benediction led by The Rt Revd Robert G. Tharp on Thursday afternoon. Dr. David Hurd was present as conference musician (and also gave one of the Friday presentations.) Time was available for confession with Bishop Williams and with conference chaplain Father Edgar F. Wells. On Friday morning the Revd Professor Louis Weil spoke of "Points of Reference for the Future of Liturgy" and said that he sees a shift "from a clerical to an ecclesial model of liturgy...to an understanding of liturgy as rooted in the life of the whole Christian community." Friday afternoon's presentations included "A Catholic Perspective on Christian Ethics" by the Revd John Bauerschmidt, "The Eucharist and Justice: An Anglo-Catholic Vision of Christian Humanism" by Dr. R. William Franklin, "Called by Mystery" by Sister Mary Christabel, OHS, and two moving descriptions of growth in priestly ministry given by the Revd Christina Brannock and the Revd Charles S. Gilman. Saturday morning's evaluation session, rnoderated by The Rt Revd Frank T. Griswold, and the conference evaluations, indicated a great desire for further gatherings and a hope for a periodical to keep our communication growing. From the "Advancing Anglican Catholicity" conference organized by the Revd Alfred T.K. Zadig in November 1991, to "Living the Catholic Mystery in the 21st Century" chaired by the Revd Park Bodie this past June, we now look forward to several regional gatherings in the coming year and another international conference in the summer of 1996, chaired by the Revd Charles S. Gilman. To a church too often fraught with controversy, Anglo-Catholics may be able to offer a place of refreshment, reflection, and new life. Anne Carter Mahaffey is Parish Coordinator on the staff of St. Matthew's, Louisville, KY.
Affirming Catholicism is an educational charity involved in various initiatives: publications, seminars, shared worship, retreats, pilgrimages, conferences. Most dioceses have their own local groups to undertake similar projects themselves. Address: St Giles Church, No. 4 The Postern, Wood Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8BJ. Telephone enquiries to+44 [0]171-638 1980; fax: +44 [0]171-638 1997. Registered Charity No. 1007291
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