REPRESENTATIVES of Beaudesert’s Anglican and Catholic parishes arrived together for the joint Act of Repentance at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane capturing the spirit behind one of the key sesquicentenary celebrations of 2009.
Catholic parish priest Fr Bernie Gallagher and Rev David Lunniss, of the Anglican parish, made the trip with 24 of their parishioners by bus, sitting together in the cathedral later for the event.
Nearly 500 people attended the Act of Repentance on March 27 at St John’s Cathedral. A combined choir from St John’s and St Stephen’s Cathedral took part.
The celebration acknowledged that in the Churches’ 150 years of co-existence in Brisbane there had been failures on both sides to live up to the full Gospel message.
St Stephen’s Cathedral dean Fr Ken Howell, one of the event organisers, said many present at the “well attended and prayerful event” had expressed their gratitude at the opportunity provided by the Act of Repentance to gather together.
The sentiment was shared by Anglican Rev Canon Richard Tutin who said the level of attendance and involvement had “surpassed all expectations”.
Among highlights had been Archbishop John Bathersby and Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall’s prayers for forgiveness on behalf of their communities, Fr Howell said.
Prior to this Fr Howell together with Anglican dean Rev Peter Catt brought two bowls with burning incense to place in front of a cross inside St John’s.
The two deans and Anglican canon pastor Susan Crothers-Robertson and Catholic Liturgical Commission education officer Elizabeth Harrington then read the titles of sins confessed. Both archbishops took it in turn to offer prayers of repentance.
Among sins which were asked for forgiveness were those against Christian unity, indigenous peoples, other cultures and religions, the dignity of women and against creation including the environment.
Catholic archdiocesan executive officer for the Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Relations Margaret Naylon said the “simple but powerful ceremony” formed part of a process that will ultimately lead to the signing of a covenant between the Brisbane Anglican diocese and the Catholic archdiocese on May 29.
