Events planned to celebrate Notre Dame’s ecumenical commitment | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Events planned to celebrate Notre Dame’s ecumenical commitment Events planned to celebrate Notre Dame’s ecumenical commitment Published: March 11, 2019 Author: Amanda Skofstad Sacred Heart Jesus statue on Main Quad with the inscription "Venite Ad Me Omnes" on the pedestal. Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame will host two public events related to ecumenism and the relationships among Christians in the world.  The first event is an ecumenical prayer service at 7:30 p.m. March 26 (Tuesday) in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Notre Dame Liturgical Choir will provide music, and members of the local community are invited to attend. Co-presiding ministers at the prayer service will be Christian clergy from the Notre Dame community, and local clergy are invited to attend and vest. Honored guests will include: Rev. Chris Ferguson, General Secretary, World Communion of Reformed Churches The Most Rev. Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General, Anglican Communion Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, General Secretary, Lutheran World Federation Cardinal Kurt Koch, President, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Rev. Dr. J.C. Park, President, World Methodist Council The second event is a panel discussion titled “From Conflict to Communion: The Future of Christians Together in the World” at 5 p.m. March 28 (Thursday) in the McKenna Hall Auditorium. Panelists will be senior leaders from a variety of Christian traditions, and the discussion will be moderated by Professor Neil Arner of Notre Dame’s Department of Theology. Both events are free and open to the public. The prayer service and panel discussion are being hosted in tandem with a private ecumenical consultation on campus between leaders of five Christian traditions — Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed and Roman Catholic — that have associated themselves with the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. This 1999 document expresses a shared understanding on the nature of salvation as being by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and addresses fundamental issues that have divided Christians for centuries. The goal of the ecumenical consultation at Notre Dame is to provide recommendations for how the Christian communities that have adopted the Joint Declaration can demonstrate deeper communion with each other. “Notre Dame’s commitment to ecumenism is an essential dimension of our character as a Catholic university,” said Rev. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., vice president for mission engagement and church affairs. “We share in Jesus’ prayer for unity, and we seek to build a culture of encounter which leads to greater understanding, collaboration and love. Notre Dame strongly agrees with Pope Francis when he says that ecumenism is not optional.” The University of Notre Dame has had a long-standing commitment to ecumenism, including its stewardship of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, located in Jerusalem. Founded by Pope Paul VI and Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., the mission of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute is to catalyze among Christians a culture of encounter, understanding, civil discourse and bridge building. Contact: Amanda Skofstad, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-4313, skofstad@nd.edu Posted In: Faith Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 dCEC to Award 2023 ND Evangelium Vitae Medal to Robert P. George September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 15, 2022 In new book on global Catholicism, Provost John McGreevy explores modern history, current challenges of the Church September 15, 2022 Death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean to speak at Notre Dame September 14, 2022 Apostolic nuncio to Great Britain to deliver the 2022 Keeley Vatican Lecture For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn