Bishop Lowe: Ecumenism is not an optional extra

In a video message on Ascension Sunday on June 1, Bishop Lowe said that the mission of the Church is to continue what Jesus has started, and this mission belongs to all the baptised.

The start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a day to “remember not only the mission of Christ that is going on through the Catholic Church, but within all the Christian denominations”, Bishop Lowe said.

“It is also a week when we should pray for unity, as Christ prayed for unity.”

Jesus prayed that his followers might be one, so that the Father would be glorified and so that the world might know that it was the Father who sent Jesus among humanity, Bishop Lowe said.

“Ecumenism, this work of praying for Christian unity and working with other Christians, is not an optional extra. It is intrinsic to the life of the Church. And we pray that every Sunday, when we pray we believe in a Church that is one, holy, catholic and apostolic – except that oneness is broken. Forty thousand Christian denominations later, we have got some real work to do.”

Bishop Lowe spoke about holiness, catholicity and believing what the apostles believed and going out as apostolic people to share the Good News of Christ’s salvation.

“So, we have got some work to do.”

Bishop Lowe asked viewers, “particularly in this week, to look for an opportunity in your area to pray for the unity of Christians”.

“Jesus prayed that we be so completely one that the world would know it was the Father who sent him,” Bishop Lowe added.

“Let’s do our part so that his prayer might become true in us, and in what we say, and in what we do, as we go out and proclaim the one Christ, and one baptism, and one faith and one hope.”

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Bishop Steve Lowe video on Ascension Sunday (Facebook/Bishop Steve Lowe)