The brothers and sisters in Hungary organised a weekend on ecumenism to learn together. It was an opportunity to come together, experience fellowship and move forward together on the path to unity.
By Blandine Fejérdy, a member of the Community
Inspired in particular by the testimonies of many mixed-faith couples who had taken part in the Cana retreat, and who shared with us their joy at having finally found a place where they could live out their very special calling, we felt it was important to deepen our understanding of the issue of ecumenism.
So between 50 and 60 of us gathered—mostly members of the Community and the Communion—on 28 February and 1 March to learn together and continue moving forward on this path of unity.
Our brother Miguel Desjardin, national delegate for Christian unity at the French Bishops’ Conference, came to join us. He spoke to us not only about the major divisions between Christian churches and their causes, but also, and above all, about their commitment to the ecumenical movement.
On Saturday afternoon, we had the pleasure of welcoming Benedictine Father Titusz Hardi and Lutheran Pastor Károly Hafenscher, who joined Miguel to take part in a round-table discussion.
In a spirit of genuine fellowship, they shared with us their personal commitment to ecumenism, as well as their joys, their struggles and their hopes along this journey. For many, it was a joyful realisation that ecumenism was not the exclusive preserve of the Chemin Neuf Community!
We ended our Saturday with a service for unity, which concluded with a double blessing from our two guests.
Another highlight of the weekend was when Miguel helped us to reflect together, in the light of the “ecumenical guidelines”, on the practices we could adopt when organising sessions or weekends to best welcome our brothers and sisters from other churches.
We give thanks for this weekend, a time of formation and fellowship amongst us, but also a true time of church for Hungary!
