The ARK September 2010 volume 21, edition 4

24 Pages·2010·1.56 MB·English

by  Mary Jane Glauber

International Standard Serial Number: ISSN 1943-6467 (print)
The ARK, a publication of the American Association of InterChurch Families
K
Not all families look the same,
but each family is very
R
important, both to its own
members and to the survival of
A
SEPTEMBER 2010 all of society.
VOLUME 21;
EDITION 4
mjg ©

e
h Sandhill Cranes
at Pheasant Branch Nature
T
Conservancy, in Madison Wisconsin.
Observed just before the start of the
2010 AAIF Biennial Conference.
©Copyright 2010 AAIF all rights reserved
The American Association of Interchurch Families Biennial
Conference took place at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Wisconsin in
mjg ©
July 2010
Interchurch Families:
Christian Unity
Made Visible in our
Households
Red Cabbage in the garden at Holy Wisdom Monastery
The First Report after the July 2010
AAIF Biennial Conference held
at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Wisconsin
“Learning from Benedictine Spirituality” with an emphasis
on the family, community and society
A A I F C o n f e r e n c e Make plans now to attend the next
H i g h l i g h t s AAIF Biennial Conference
2010 to be held in 2012
Please see www.aifusa.org for on-going updates
The ARK September 2010 page 1 Volume 21, Edition 4
AAIF IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA
"In order to unite with one
another, we must love one
Dr. Lynn Turner of Marquette
another;  in order to love one
University gives a presentation
another, we must know one
about communication in families as
another, we must go and meet
one of the Keynote Speakers for the
one another."
2010 Biennial AAIF Conference at
~ Cardinal Mercier
Holy Wisdom Monastery
Sharing Our Stories:
If you are wondering if you
should or should not plan
to attend one of the up-
coming biennial AAIF
Conferences (the next one
will be in 2012) please
Communication in the Family consider how much can be
learned through the
presented by Dr. Lynn Turner
informal process of sharing
our stories in a relaxed
atmosphere. Many times, it
Each family unit has its own set of rituals and practices. Language
is during the pre or post
patterns are unique to each family. In this sense, all marriages may
tours or times of relaxation
be considered an intercultural, if not, an interfaith marriage. It can be
a big source of conflict for any new family to blend traditions. All where some of our most
marriages are a negotiation of two cultures. All marriages are poignant and humorous
intercultural and create a new culture. Even men and women come
stories surface. These
from two different cultures.
moments are not to be
missed. Have you ever
In 2010, we have moved from an institutional marriage to a
companion marriage. In a companion marriage, your partner wondered under what
becomes your friend and soulmate. In earlier times, in an institutional circumstances a four year
marriage, the perspective
old interchurch child might
Apple Orchard at Holy Wisdom Monastery was simply a need to
be most likely to ask a
provide children for that
parent what the difference
marriage. If we live
longer, it is more difficult is between Santa Claus and
to find a life long soul God or Jesus? The only
mate. Our world is
way to find out the answer
shrinking; we travel more
to such a question is
now and further. We may
tend to have a more through the AAIF Biennial
mjg ©
global perspective. Conferences.
By the 1990’s there had
Communication in the Family, Dr. Lynn Turner continued on the next page
The ARK September 2010 page 2 Volume 21, Edition 4
Communication in the Family, Dr. Lynn Turner continued from the previous page
become a greater increase in should be compared and hurtful, and ask for a different
marriages between people who contrasted for their understood action in the future. Use “I”
seemed to not share a similar meaning. Avoid mind reading. messages such as “I felt” to
background according to a Avoid acting in isolation. help to diffuse the situation.
study done by Hughes and Sometimes it will be necessary
Dickson. However, the way we As one example, Dr. Turner to ask when it would be a good
are looking at the figures may explained that she is time to talk without distractions.
not tell the whole story. There concerned about having
may be other dimensions to multiple TV sets in a home. No Working toward
consider, for example, a one will ever learn how to “Compassionate
person’s level of commitment negotiate if they have more Communication,” acknowledge
to their own faith and/or their than one TV set in their home 80% of the time and talk 20%
willingness to consider growing up. of the time. Listen respectfully,
marrying someone from dwell in difference peacefully,
another denomination. Where Find your common ground, or find a third way. “You may
the couple has married within what you do agree on. Speak not always get the results you
the same denomination when in non-defensive ways. Use have set out to get”, Dr. Lynn
the levels of commitment relationship reminders such as, Turner cautioned, “but that is
change within their “You know I love you, but I the nature of communication.”
denomination they then need ...” However, Dr. Turner
become a form of a mixed cautions us not to throw out the ~ M.J. Glauber
marriage. entire list of grievances all at
once.
Religious orientation, although
appearing to be from different Repeat back what you heard
denominations, can be the other person say that was
intrinsically important to both
spouses so that they
actually have that in Father George Kilcourse and Dr. Daniel Olsen
common. There may be
some extrinsic interests,
such as social justice, for
example, that the couple
share in common that work
to bond them together. Other
factors, like having a strong
and supportive social
network of friends and family
is beneficial to their
relationship. People who
come from different
traditions may not get the
support needed from their
church of origin.
Bringing different traditions
into the marriage needs to
be negotiated. This is done
slowly. With dialogue even
the meaning for words
The ARK September 2010 page 3 Volume 21, Edition 4
2010 AAIF Biennial Conference
Opening Plenary: Benedictine Women of Madison
http://www.benedictinewomen.org/
mjg © index.html
AAIF City
http://www.benedictinewomen.org/ Chapters:
downloads/Benedictine%20Spirituality
Listening Project
%20in%20the%2021st%20Century.pdf
Are you interested in
http://www.benedictinewomen.org/care/
meeting and talking to
care_envhistory.html
other interchurch
http://www.benedictinewomen.org/care/ families in your city
care_green_building.html
between AAIF Biennial
Conferences?
Sister Lynne speaks to AAIF Members on Friday http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/
evening - The other sisters spoke as well. article.cfm/2010/5/1/Benedictine- PLEASE SEE WWW.AIFUSA.ORG
Monastery-Receives-Highest-LEED- FOR MEMBERSHIP
Score/ INFORMATION
Gathering Knowledge from
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/25/ PLEASE CONTACT:
the
green.monastery/index.html [email protected]
Benedictine or Laura & Franz Green
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/usa/
holy-wisdom-monastery at
Women of [email protected]
http://www.benedictinewomen.org/care/
care_in_the_news.html
Madison  FOR INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW TO FORM A CITY
CHAPTER IN YOUR AREA OR
http://www.homedesignfind.com/green/
HOW TO FIND THE AAIF
From July 9 through July 11, benedictine-monastery-wins-highest-
CITY CHAPTER CLOSEST TO
leed-platinum-in-usa/
2010, The American Association YOU.
of Interchurch Families (AAIF)
I believe that the Benedictine
officially held their biennial
Women of Madison have done an
conference on the grounds of
excellent job of explaining their
Holy Wisdom Monastery of the
journey on their own webpages.
Benedictine Women of Madison. PLEASE CONTACT:
What they have created is
Some of us arrived a day early [email protected] FOR
beautiful; this serves as a THE ARK - AAIF LISTENING
and left a day or two late so that
wonderful role model for all of us. PROJECT MATERIALS TO BE
we could spend more time USED BY YOUR AAIF CITY
Photos of their facilities are
together enjoying the area. CHAPTERS.
included at the links above.
On Friday evening, the
Sharing meals made from fresh
Rather than strictly re-telling their
Benedictine Women of Madison garden ingredients
story, I will try to take the lessons
spoke about their journey toward
I gathered from their journey that
the creation of this award winning
can be used in interchurch family
monastery building and the
situations and share them with
creation of an ecumenical
you in a later issue of the ARK.
community. I am including links
from their website and other
sources to show their journey.
The ARK September 2010 page 4 Volume 21, Edition 4
Father
Ernest
Falardeau,
Ecumenical Corner SSS
speaking at
the 2010
from April 2010 AAIF
Biennial
Harvesting the Fruits
Conference
at Holy
Wisdom
Monastery
mjg ©
in
Wisconsin
Cardinal Walter Kasper, the come to know what has
president of the Pontifical been produced and what it
Council for Promoting Christian means to the goal of
Unity, has recently published a Christian unity.
book in which he tries to reap dialogues at the national and
the fruit of over forty years of His book concentrates on the local level, but the Cardinal’s
ecumenical dialogue. He dialogues in which the Catholic book does not cover these
believes that is the most Church has been a partner. numerous dialogues.
important task before the These include the bi-lateral
Christian Churches today. dialogues such as the Orthodox-
What are the fruits?
Roman Catholic Dialogue, the
What prompted Cardinal Kasper Anglican-Roman Catholic
to write the book was the fact Dialogue (ARCIC), the Lutheran- Prominent among the fruits of
that the many dialogues in which Roman Catholic Dialogue, the the dialogue are the Justification
the churches are involved have Pentecostal-Roman Catholic by Grace in Faith (JDJF) of the
produced rich fruits which often Dialogue, and so forth. It also Lutheran-Roman Catholic
are not know to many people, includes the multi-lateral International Commission which
even clergy, of the churches. dialogues between the Catholic was approved by the Lutheran
After so many years and so Church and the World Council of World Federation and the
much good work by bishops, Churches (the Working Group). Vatican in October 1999. This
theologians and members of the agreed statement resolved in
dialogue teams, it is time to There are other substance the major obstacle to
Continued on the next page “Harvesting The Fruits”
Time to enjoy being with
Either formally or informally important information other interchurch
is shared. families who are now
long-time friends or the
chance to meet new
friends during the 2010
AAIF Biennial
Conference.
©
mjg
mjg ©
The ARK September 2010 page 5 Volume 21, Edition 4
Continued from the previous page
“Harvesting the Fruits”
unity between Lutherans and and the Vatican in 1994
Re-printed with permission from Father
Roman Catholics since the approved “The Final Report”.
Ernest Falardeau, SSS, who regularly
Reformation of the sixteenth
writes and distributes: “Ecumenical Corner.”
century. Luther himself said
Blessed Sacrament Father Ernest
that if the Vatican and In the Orthodox-Roman
Falardeau is totally dedicated to the cause
Lutherans were ever able to Catholic Dialogues (there are
of ecumenism – dialogue and cooperation
bridge their differences in this two major dialogues, the
among Christian churches. He has
area, there would be no reason bishop’s international dialogue,
dedicated much of his life and ministry to
for “us” to be Lutheran. The and the bishops and
working in the field. Fr. Falardeau was
nature of this historic break- theologians’ international
appointed to the Anglican-Roman Catholic
through would take dialogue). the focus has been
Dialogue by Edward Cardinal Egan of the
considerable space to explain, on the nature of the Church
Archdiocese of New York.
but it is one of the outstanding and sacraments, especially
achievements of the modern Eucharist and Orders. They are
We promote unity in all our activities: within
ecumenical movement. It has important theologically and in
our Christian communities, among
changed the ground work of the promotion of greater unity
denominations that share the same
the Lutheran-Roman Catholic between the Catholic Church
baptism,and among everyone who works
dialogue as well as those of and the Orthodox communions.
towards world unity. (Rule of Life, 38)
other dialogues between Rome
- Ernest R. Falardeau, SSS, S.T.D.
and the churches of the
Conclusion
Reformation.
What does all of this progress The prairie in bloom in July 2010
A second very important
mean for people in the pews? It
dialogue with rich fruits is the
means first of all, the Catholic mjg ©
Anglican-Roman Catholic
Church is very serious about
International dialogue (ARCIC).
promoting Christian unity. Pope
The “Final Report” focused on
John Paul II said it is a pastoral
three major issues dividing
priority for himself and for the
Anglicans and Roman
Catholic Church. It also means,
Catholics, namely Eucharist,
as the document on Christian
Ordination and Authority. These
unity of the Second Vatican
issues are so important that
Council, Unitatis Redintegratio
Cardinal Johannes
(The Reintegration of Unity)
Willebrands, who served as the
says, Christian unity is
president of the Pontifical
everyone’s business. We all
Council for Promoting Christian
need to do all we can through
Unity after Cardinal Bea, said
work and prayer to move this
in a famous sermon delivered
important part of the church’s
at St. Mary’s in London, that if
mission to fruition. It means
Anglicans and Roman
that “reception” of the
Catholics could agree on the
ecumenical work approved by
two first issues (Eucharist and
the churches should be
“How do interchurch couples
Orders) there would be a “new
thoughtfully integrated into the
context” to explore the issue of decide how to tithe, especially
lives of all Christians.
the validity of Anglican Orders when one spouse is staying

today. (Pope Leo XIII had home and not working, while
Father Ernest Falardeau, SSS
declared these orders invalid in their children are infants?”
his famous “Apostolicae Curae” Have interchurch couples given
encyclical of 1896.) Both the any feed back on this topic?”
~ interchurch spouse
Lambeth Conference in 1988
The ARK September 2010 page 6 Volume 21, Edition 4
In the last edition of the ARK the practice of
“Lectio Divina” was introduced
Practicing ‘Lectio Divina’ using Psalm 148
Here let us continue by
Laudate Dominum
Tall Grass Prairie 14 He has raised up strength for his
people and praise for all his loyal
mjg © servants, the children of Israel, a
1 Hallelujah!
people who are near him.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Hallelujah!
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all you angels of his;

praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
•Take the time to read over Psalm
4 Praise him, heaven of heavens,
148 several times.
and you waters above the heavens.
•Find something that draws your
5 Let them praise the Name of the
attention or that sparkles in it for you.
LORD; for he commanded, and they
were created.
•Spend some quiet time thinking
Ecumenical Corner
about the lines that sparkle for you.
6 He made them stand fast for ever
June, 2010
and ever; he gave them a law which
•Write a prayer or a statement to
shall not pass away.
The National share about this psalm and how God
Workshop on has been present in your daily lived
7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
Christian Unity experience as interchurch families.
you sea-monsters and all deeps;
Do you see any connections with
you, God and your lived experience
Reprinted with permission from 8 Fire and hail, snow and fog,
in an interchurch family?
Father Ernest Falardeau, SSS tempestuous wind, doing his will;
•Please share this with other Ark
9 Mountains and all hills,
readers, if this pleases you. We
fruit trees and all cedars; would like to read your prayers and
The National Workshop on your reflections. Please send your
Christian Unity is celebrated 10 Wild beasts and all cattle, prayers or reflections to
each year for ecumenical creeping things and winged birds; [email protected]
officers who serve Catholic
Archdioceses and Dioceses 11 Kings of the earth and all
and judicatories of other peoples, princes and all rulers of
Christian Churches as well the world; mjg ©
as executives of ecumenical
agencies at the national, 12 Young men and maidens, old
regional and local levels. It is and young together.
regularly attended by three
hundred to four hundred 13 Let them praise the Name of
persons both clergy and lay. the LORD, for his Name only is
The Catholic Church has a exalted, his splendor is over
national association of earth and heaven. Native prairie flowers in bloom at Holy
ecumenical officers presently Wisdom Monastery in Wisconsin during the
2010 AAIF Biennial Conference.
Ecumenical Corner NWCU
continued on the next page
The ARK September 2010 page 7 Volume 21, Edition 4
Ecumenical Corner NWCU continued from the previous page
Richard
called CADEIO (The Catholic mjg ©
Association of Ecumenical and and Nancy
Interreligious Officers.) Other
House talk
churches have similar associations:
EDEIO (Episcopal Diocesan with Father
Ecumenical and Interreligious
Ernest
Officers) LERN (Lutheran
Ecumenical Representatives Falardeau
Network). Methodists and
during the
Presbyterians have their
organizations. I have reported on 2010 AAIF
some of these National Workshops in
Conference
the Ecumenical Corner, and it would
be useful to report on this year’s 

gathering in Tampa, FL, April 19-22,
especially since it seemed to reach
an important landmark in the
ecumenical movement.
members serve the Christian churches at the national level and

make decisions concerning the location and program of each
The theme of the NWCU was “You
National Workshop. This year’s program was especially rich and
are Witnesses to these things” – like
highlighted a number of prominent ecumenists from the Christian
many previous themes, the same as
churches. Among them were the Workshop Opening Service
that of the Week of Prayer for
Homilist, the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding
Christian Unity. This year’s overriding
Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church in the United States,
emphasis was reception of
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, GA,
ecumenical agreed statements that
president of the US Catholic Bishops’ Ecumenical Commission,
have been formally accepted by the
Reverend Dr. Bruce Chilton, Professor of Religion at Bard College
churches in bi-lateral or multi-lateral
who led the two Bible Study Sessions, giving first century
agreements. It also encompasses
background to the Jewish Passover and the Christian Eucharist.
other significant progress in the
Other speakers included Rev. Dr. William G. Rusch who spoke on
ecumenical dialogues of the Christian
Local Reception and Rev. Dr. Tom Best who spoke on Doing
churches whether with Orthodox
Mission Ecumenically.
Churches or Churches of the
Reformation.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory’s presentation was very well received.
He clarified a number of recent documents from the Vatican and
The National Program
gave their context. Among the documents he explained were the
Roman Catholic-Lutheran joint declaration on justification by faith
The NWCU is organized by a
(JDJF), the papal “motu proprio” Anglicanorum Coetus which
national planning board whose
describes the conditions under which Anglicans might become
Roman Catholics while preserving some elements of the
Anglican Tradition. Archbishop Gregory also stressed the
Growing up, I had lived exclusively in a background to the Holy Office’s statement on sister churches
Roman Catholic culture. Nothing had and communion between the churches of the Reformation and
prepared me for even the possibility that I the Catholic Church.
might marry someone who might be Network Programs
Protestant. Being in an interchurch marriage Among the workshops presented in Tampa, a number stressed
has opened up my understanding to greater
possibilities for Christian Unity and how the
Roman Catholic Church desires Christian Ecumenical Corner NWCU continued on the next page
Unity.” - Interchurch Wife

The ARK September 2010 page 8 Volume 21, Edition 4
©mjg
Prairie and Hardwood
Savanna Restoration at
Madison, Wisconsin
and the celebrants of the
Pheasant Branch
Eucharist.
Conclusion
©mjg It is difficult to measure the kind
of progress that takes place
between one national workshop
and another. But there was a
Ecumenical Corner NWCU
general consensus in Tampa
continued from the previous page
that significant ground had
been gained during recent
the reception of ecumenical
years – especially the last fifty
documents. Father Jared
©mjg
years – and so it is time to
Wicks, SJ, for example, at the
gather the fruits of that
CADEIO Luncheon explored
progress at the local levels.
some of the fruits to be gleaned
Such reception requires an
from the several dialogues at
open mind and heart as well as Nature
the international level which are
some study of the results of the
an affirmation of a common Conservancy
various dialogues. As Cardinal
faith on baptism, Eucharist and
Walter Kasper, president of the
– with some reservations –
Pontifical Commission for
authority in the churches.
Promoting Christian Unity, has
Joseph Small, a Presbyterian
indicated, we have reached
Ecumenist with a long record of
another level or plateau from
scholarly work, conducted a
which to launch further
workshop on the impact of the
progress toward the goal of ©mjg
World Council of Churches’
Christian unity and full
study on Baptism, Eucharist
communion. God bless our
and Ministry, in which he AAIF Members made a
efforts and our prayers.
pointed out the great care with
pre-conference tour

which Presbyterians preserve
Father Ernest Falardeau, SSS together of this nature
the ancient Christian tradition
preserve in July 2010
regarding ordination
The ARK August 2010 page 9 Volume 21, Edition 4
mjg ©
Interchurch Families meet.
A meal is shared
.......at IHOP.
The pancakes, eggs and bacon are tasty.
The time together is priceless.
The Significance of the Name “Interchurch”
Laura and Franz
By Daniel J. Olsen, Ph.D
Green,
The recently re-instituted landmark text Matrimonia
R.C.I.A. process, whereby the mixta, mixed marriages were AAIF Co-Chairs
Catholic Church welcomes new defined simply as marriages
members into its community, between a Catholic and a non- mjg ©
has much to teach us Catholic, Christian or
regarding the issue of properly otherwise. The 1983 Code of
naming interchurch marriages. Canon Law and the 1993
Baptized non-Catholic Roman Catholic Ecumenical
Christians seeking to become Directory more specifically
full members of the Catholic identify mixed marriages as
community are called being between Catholics and
“Candidates for full non-Catholic Christians. Even
communion” and their process with this helpful distinction,
of formation is to be grounded however, a level of
in their prior status as baptized misunderstanding exists
members of the Body of Christ. regarding what is meant by the
They are not “better” than term mixed marriage among
“catechumens” who remain Catholics and other Christians
unbaptized; however, the today. Moreover, this term
mjg ©
theological significance of their does little to underscore
baptism dictates that they be positively the sacramentality of
identified differently so that these unions.
appropriate attention is paid to
A recent book by Robert Hater
their ongoing spiritual life within
entitled, When a Catholic
the Christian community.
Marries a Non-Catholic (St.
I bring this understanding of Anthony Messenger Press,
the meaningfulness of 2006), chooses to speak about
language with me as I wade marriages between two
through the confusing Christians from different
language that continues to be traditions as “interfaith”
applied to marriages between marriages. This general
Catholics and non-Catholics. designation may do well to
As recently as Paul VI’s 1970 underscore the role of “faith” in
The Significance of the Name “Interchurch” continued on the next page
The ARK September 2010 page 10 Volume 21, Edition 4