Ecumenical Ministry

[Genesius]

Although I am fairly new to the Church, I have read a lot of Pope John Paul II’s Encyclicals and I know how to answer common non-Catholic objections to my Catholic faith. It took me years of studying the Catechism, Early Fathers, & listening to Catholic Answers, and basically soul searching before making a decision before coming home to Rome. While I was Protestant I explored many different denominations and shared my musical gift of songwriting, singing, guitar. This is one of the things that I sacrificed in lieu of converting to what I am now convinced is the true ancient Church that Christ founded. There does not seem to be as much opportunity to use this gift in the Church (although I know I could probably share it around parishes during evenings in a room or gathering area other than the worship area). I truly feel God has blessed me with this for a reason and in a sense I feel as though the Holy Spirit in me is being quenched because of this. I will NEVER consider leaving the Catholic Church over this matter, but it does pain me.

In addition, I am a bible college graduate with an interdisciplinary degree in Pastoral studies, Educational ministry, and Communication. I am also a Leukemia survivor. A while back I had an opportunity to share my Leukemia testimony and a song I wrote while in the hospital with a non-Catholic community. It was very well received, and I thought there might be some potential for an ecumenical ministry, sharing at other communities, as well as Catholic Parishes. My convert friend works with a lady who is the head of a ministry for raising money for the American Cancer Society by having survivors share their testimonies. She goes to different Protestant assemblies in evenings to do this ministry and told me I would be an ideal candidate.

I am just wondering what the Church’s rules are concerning ecumenical ministries of this nature? How would one get started? I was frustrated once while a ‘boot’ in confession and dumped on my priest about this. He cautioned me that the confessional was not the place to discuss it as he could not repeat anything I shared with him. I know that he wanted to support me, but I’m not sure if he could now, even if I discussed it with him outside of the confessional. What should I do?

 

[RyanML]

Although I am fairly new to the Church, I have read a lot of Pope John Paul II’s Encyclicals and I know how to answer common non-Catholic objections to my Catholic faith. It took me years of studying the Catechism, Early Fathers, & listening to Catholic Answers, and basically soul searching before making a decision before coming home to Rome. While I was Protestant I explored many different denominations and shared my musical gift of songwriting, singing, guitar. This is one of the things that I sacrificed in lieu of converting to what I am now convinced is the true ancient Church that Christ founded. There does not seem to be as much opportunity to use this gift in the Church (although I know I could probably share it around parishes during evenings in a room or gathering area other than the worship area). I truly feel God has blessed me with this for a reason and in a sense I feel as though the Holy Spirit in me is being quenched because of this. I will NEVER consider leaving the Catholic Church over this matter, but it does pain me.

In addition, I am a bible college graduate with an interdisciplinary degree in Pastoral studies, Educational ministry, and Communication. I am also a Leukemia survivor. A while back I had an opportunity to share my Leukemia testimony and a song I wrote while in the hospital with a non-Catholic community. It was very well received, and I thought there might be some potential for an ecumenical ministry, sharing at other communities, as well as Catholic Parishes. My convert friend works with a lady who is the head of a ministry for raising money for the American Cancer Society by having survivors share their testimonies. She goes to different Protestant assemblies in evenings to do this ministry and told me I would be an ideal candidate.

I am just wondering what the Church’s rules are concerning ecumenical ministries of this nature? How would one get started? I was frustrated once while a ‘boot’ in confession and dumped on my priest about this. He cautioned me that the confessional was not the place to discuss it as he could not repeat anything I shared with him. I know that he wanted to support me, but I’m not sure if he could now, even if I discussed it with him outside of the confessional. What should I do?

I would think that as long as indifferentism is avoided, it would be a blessing for these people if you shared your gifts with them.

While we have much in common with our seperated brethren, they still lack the fullness of the truth. As Catholics, we can never take part in forms of worship that would compromise the faith nor can we dismiss our differences as irrelevant. On the contrary we must be witnesses to the fullness of faith we have received. So basically, as long as your Catholic faith is not compromised, I think this would be a beautiful ministry and an example of true ecumenism. God bless!

In Corde Mariae,
Ryan

 

[Genesius]

I would think that as long as indifferentism is avoided, it would be a blessing for these people if you shared your gifts with them.

While we have much in common with our seperated brethren, they still lack the fullness of the truth. As Catholics, we can never take part in forms of worship that would compromise the faith nor can we dismiss our differences as irrelevant. On the contrary we must be witnesses to the fullness of faith we have received. So basically, as long as your Catholic faith is not compromised, I think this would be a beautiful ministry and an example of true ecumenism. God bless!

In Corde Mariae,
Ryan

Thank you, Ryan. I actually am part of an apologetics class at a local parish. At one point, the facilitator asked me to share my conversion & leukemia testimony, as well as the music, at a Catholic apologetic conference. My friend, Carl Olson who wrote “Will Catholics Be Left Behind” and co-authored “The Da Vinci Hoax” was there also as a guest. That was the first, and only (so far) opportunity I had to share it in a Catholic setting. Later during the classes where we study Encyclicals by Pope John II he asked me to outline Salvifici Doloris and present it. Again I found opportunity to meld my Leukemia testimony in with the Encyclical. I thought about perhaps making reference to it when speaking at Protestant functions as well since it deals with the very universal issue of suffering, and has some wonderful insights and perspectives that I had not considered before.

I’m sure by now you have realized that I would never suffer my Sunday obligation in lieu of an ecumenical ministry and that I am a solid Catholic and agree with everything you said. Godbless.