The Unity Pilgrim initiative is a partnership between Clonard Monastery and the Catholic parish and represents ‘a movement of change from the grassroots’. Its aim is to help transform relationships between Catholic parishes and local Protestant congregations.
The Aims of the Mission
Our aim in the Clonard Reconciliation Mission is to contribute in various ways towards the transformation of relationships between Catholic and Protestant congregations of the Church at local level in Northern Ireland, particularly through the arrangement of "unity pilgrimages" and the gradual development of inter-church fellowships between Catholic and Protestant congregations after the model of the Clonard/Fitzroy Fellowship.
Peace without Ecumenism will not grow.
Ecumenism and Peace are both a pilgrim journey! We tell about the vision that inspires our Ecumenism and Peace Ministry and the small steps we are taking.
Though there is nothing small if God is in it! We tell of the progress we are making and the things we are learning on the road. Questions arise which we share with you.
St Luke tells us that at the beginning the disciples of Jesus
"with one accord, devoted themselves to prayer,
together with Mary the Mother of Jesus" (Acts of the Apostles 1.14).
Like them, we too pray for the gift of the Spirit
"May they all be one" (John 17.21).
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The Vision
We call ourselves Unity Pilgrims. We go on pilgrimage to holy places - not the usual ones but the places where our Protestant brothers and sisters worship.
In faith and friendship we gladly join them on the Lord's Day.The mandate of Jesus leaves us no option -
"As I have loved you, you must love one another..."
The prayer of Jesus beckons us on -
"Father, may they all be one".
Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Pentecostal congregations -
we are all parts of the Body of Christ!
We need one another!
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you',
Nor the head say to the feet, 'I have no need of you'"
(1 Corinthians 12.21)
We need to open our hearts to one another!
We need to share our gifts! We delight in helping to bring to an end a great scandal -the centuries-old alienation from one another on the Lord's Day. We are aware of the Holy Spirit among us creating through our pilgrimages the unity of Christians.
The prayer of St Thomas More embodies our yearning:
"Lord, that which we pray for, help us to do"!
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