TLDR: Your Rector has been a member of an international inter-denominational ministry for two years. Read on for a report on our John-17 meeting with Cardinal DiNardo this week.
I had the honor of meeting Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on Monday, September 23rd. DiNardo is the only Roman Catholic Cardinal in the south of the United States and the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The Most Reverend Cardinal is the chief pastor of over 2 million Catholics, 435 priests, 146 parishes, and 54 schools, spread over 8,880 square miles. Yet, his Eminence was down to earth, humble, engaged in our conversation, generous with his time, and very empathic to the concerns brought out by various members of the small group of John 17 delegates. As a matter of curiosity, the Cardinal and I had a few things in common: We both lived in Pittsburgh for a time in our lives, we both studied in Europe, he was the Director of Villa Stritch (a house in Rome for American clergy,) where I stayed in late 1990, and he was a professor at the North-American College in Rome at the same time I was a student at their sister institution, the American College, in Louvain, Belgium.
Now, a little context is necessary before I tell you why we were meeting with the Cardinal. In 2019, a small group of John-17 members met with the Cardinal to organize a number of inter-denominational gatherings in the greater Houston area. The Cardinal enthusiastically served as host to two well-attended lunches of leaders of Christian denominations. The goal of the events was nothing more than to allow Christian pastors, priests, chaplains, and bishops to break bread together and to begin the development of relationships. This is what John-17 is doing in various parts of the world. “We seek to help create environments around tables where each of us can receive the needed nourishment relationships provide… At the table Christian unity is promoted through the building of relationships and friendships with each other over a simple meal, a cup of coffee, or a gelato, with prayer and sharing.” (John-17 materials.) I have been a member of John-17 for about two years.
In an age of partisanship, denominational isolationism, political polarization, uncivil and aggressive social media speech, conflicts around the world, and hate-mongering politicians in America, it is extremely important for pastors of various denominations to gather to eat and pray together. Christians have a common faith in a common Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, and a deep commitment to the welfare of the communities in which they live and practice their faith. It makes absolutely no sense for their spiritual leaders to be divided and antagonistic towards each other. Healthy communities need religious leaders that show great acceptance of denominational differences and are able to come together to pray and build each other up. As Pope Francis, a member of John-17, states, “We are united in a baptism of water and a baptism of blood.” What he means by this is that when a shooter enters a school, he does not ask about the denomination of his victims, he kills indiscriminately. It is the same in areas where Christian martyrdom is common. Executioners simply kill anyone who believes in Jesus of Nazareth. All Christians, regardless of denomination, share in this “Baptism in Blood.”
After several successful John-17 gatherings in Houston in 2019, COVID-19 forced the movement to take a break. Now, five years after those events, we seek to re-initiate these regional lunches for prayer and connection. The goal is not to eliminate denominational differences to secure unity, rather, the goal is to allow religious leaders the opportunity to meet each other, listen to each other’s stories, and plan subsequent events to come together. This is the work of unity, one relationship at a time.
As for me, getting to know some of the religious leaders in this community has made a great difference in my ministry and in my life. Attending the John-17 Vatican Conference with Pope Francis last year was a highlight of my ministry. I look forward to being a part of a small group of people from around the world who will meet with the Pope for three days later this year to work on a set of initiatives for Christian unity.
The meeting with Cardinal DiNardo was very successful. We will organize a gathering of the judicatory (leaders) of the various Christian denominations in Houston in early 2025. This first gathering will lead to several larger gatherings of various clergy and lay leaders during the second half of next year. Please keep John-17 members in your prayers as we continue this holy work of Christian unity.
May our Lord continue to bless you,
Fr. Roman+
