An Evening for Ecumenical Conversation @ St. Procopius Abbey

On Monday, February 9, St. Procopius Abbey (Lisle, IL) hosted a wonderful evening gathering dedicated to Catholic-Evangelical ecumenism. Several hundred guests, representing scores of Catholic and Protestant parishes throughout the Chicago area, gathered to listen to two long-time friends engage in a ninety-minute conversation about Christian unity. Taking their cue from the current actions, and written initiatives, of Pope Francis the two conversation partners addressed the possibilities and problems inherent in this new ecumenism. The Very Rev. Dr. Robert Barron, Rector/President of University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, and the Rev. Dr. John H. Armstrong, a Reformed Church minister and adjunct professor of evangelism at Wheaton College. Dr Armstrong also serves as the founder and president of the ACT3 Network in nearby Carol Stream, Illinois, who sponsored the event. Both Fr. Barron and Rev. Armstrong shared personal stories and answered questions. The dialogue was moderated by Rev. Dr. Chris Castaldo, Lead Pastor of  New Covenant Church in Naperville. Dr. Castaldo also moderated the Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue between Dr. Armstrong and Francis Cardinal George, hosted by Wheaton College in March of 2012.

Fr. Barron and Rev. Armstrong have done five previous public dialogues of this type, all in college and university settings in the greater Chicago area. Each dialogue has sought to explore our common faith, as well as our remaining significant differences, both for the purpose of bearing faithful witness to Christ our Lord. This event had the same purpose. Both speakers gave short opening statements. Dr. Armstrong focused on Saint Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Ut Unum Sint (On Commitment to Ecumenism) by drawing attention to the sections on the value of dialogue, especially section 40, on “Practical Cooperation.” He urged deeper relational friendships to the end that we explore “a dynamic road to unity