The Ecumenical Directory

Organization of the Catholic Church

Wilfried Stephane Zoungrana,M.Af

Are the Bishops Interested?

Today, the 30^th January 2012, Wilfried Stephane Zoungrana,M.Afr and Saju Akkara Jose, M.Afr presented the summary of the Organization of the Catholic Church.

 Organization of the Catholic Church…

Saju started by giving us the main ideas in the document. For him, Vatican council specifically entrusted the job of ecumenism to the discretion of the particular bishop of the region through their individual capacity, through synods and Episcopal conferences etc.  There are specific offices and institutions in the Catholic Church that deals with the notion of promotion of Christian unity.

Further on, he lists the main offices within the catholic church be at the higher level or just within the local ordinary. We have the offices as follows:

Diocesan Ecumenical officer: Bishop should appoint a competent person as diocesan officer for ecumenical actions. He or she is the animator for diocesan ecumenical commission and coordinator for ecumenical activities in general. He should work closely with the bishop in every activity regarding the ecumenism and represent the catholic communion with its relationship with other churches.

Diocesan Ecumenical Secretariat: In addition to a diocesan ecumenical officer, the diocesan Bishop should set up a council or secretariat to put into practice the diocesan policies to promote Christian unity. It is a community with the full participation with clergy, religious and laity of the diocese. They try to organize the ecumenical activities of the diocese with the help of the various organs existing in the diocese; they also should help in the following activities in the diocese.

----They have the duty to implement Conciliar and post councilor documents, documents from synods and Episcopal conferences.

----Foster spiritual ecumenism for the unity of the Christians

----Organize seminar and workshops for the formations of clergy and laity in the matters of ecumenism

----Promote friendliness and charity between Catholics and non-Catholics.

Also they should ensure the smooth working of ecumenical initiatives in the parish level.

The Ecumenical commission of synods of eastern churches and Episcopal conferences

Each synod of eastern catholic churches and Episcopal conferences should establish an Episcopal commission for ecumenism with the help of experts from laity, clergy and religious. And they should concentrate on the following activities:

---Putting in to practice the norms and instructions from the Holy Sea;

---Giving advice and assistance to the bishops;

---Promoting co-operation among Christians;

---Promoting consultation and dialogue with the church leaders and council of churches;

---Maintain relationship with Episcopal conferences and pontifical council for promoting Christian unity. 

Ecumenical Structures within other Ecclesial Contexts: the primary role of these structures is to entrust that a smooth coordination of the activities conducted within the framework of ecumenism.

Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life: these institutes must promote ecumenism wherever their work calls to.

Organizations of Faithful: the faithful are not left out in the organization of the offices within the catholic church in the task of promoting Christian unity. The church recognizes the role of the faithful in having an impact in the lives of the people. They can do promotion of Christian unity within their places of work, encourage ecumenical activities within their Small Christian Communities and whenever they can meet people of other churches.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity: the role of this office is implement the document of Vatican II; coordinate the ecumenical activities at the universal level; organize sessions with the other churches and wherever possible delegate other members to conduct sessions or contacts experts in the fields

Reflection: our group was divided in the way offices in charge of coordinating ecumenical activities at the local are handle. While recognizing the call made on the bishops to implement the directory and guides issues by the Pontifical Council for Christian unity, the lack of willness is pending on the part of the bishops.

The problem is that on the ground, some bishops are not even interested in ecumenical or at times are not even aware of ecumenical activities within his territory. Bishops are good at writing projects and getting funds but too little effort is put in it.

Nevertheless we cannot deny the zeal and commitment of some few bishops or religious congregations as they take the call of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christianity very seriously. They organize ecumenical meetings with other churches and they have resourceful personal fully committed for the work.

What we need is to help one another discover the richness of ecumenical work and promote it for the benefit of all humankind so that each one may grow better in the life of faith in the spirit and the in the sacrament of unity and teaching of the catholic church.