"Bishops' Day" at St. Michael's Retreat

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was celebrated this year at St. Michael's Retreat with a session with the Bishops of the three Christian denominations which operate St. Michael's: Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic. The theme of the day was "Recommitment to Christian Unity: Understanding of Fundamental Sacramental Practices in Each Tradition."


Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson of the Anglican Diocese of Qu'Appelle is in the centre and on the left is Pastor Helmut Nachtigal, who represented Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Cindy Halmarson who was unable to attend. Each of the three of us gave a twenty minute presentation on the Sacraments as they are understood in each of the denominations. This then was followed by questions and comments from the group who had assembled for the day.

And as you can see, there was a very good turn out with a sizeable group present for the event.

Fr. Kevin Lynch, ofm who is the former Director of St. Michael's acted as Master of Ceremonies for the day.

After being welcomed by Fr. Anthony Gonsalves, ofm, the present Director of St. Michael's, Pastor Nachtigal began with his presentation outlining the Evangelical Lutheran Church's theology on the Sacrament. Bishop Kerr-Wilson and myself followed.

There was a good lunch after the morning session. The lunch was excellent, as is usually the case at St. Michael's

And there was time to chat informally.

At the end of the day we gathered for prayer together in the Chapel. The prayer was led by Fr. Dennis Vvrek, ofm, the Provincial of the Franciscans in Western Canada.

It was a very satisfactory day spent in working to an answer of Jesus prayer in John's Gospel (17: 20-21)for his disciples and followers: ‘

I, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.‘I ask not only on behalf of these As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

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