On Saturday 9th November, history was made at the meeting called, “Many Streams – One River”, a gathering of 1,600 people, involved in 20 different Church (Ecclesial) movements, all meeting at Westminster Hall, from 10.30 am – 5.00 pm. The event came less than five months after the world meeting of ecclesial movements, and communities, with Pope Francis at the Vatican, on Pentecost Sunday. By the grace of God, I was able to be present. Most certainly, this week-end, there will comments in the Christian Press – for us the Catholic newspapers. It was a new, first step, on a long road for the Church, I suspect, because this event has been awaited for years; at last, it has taken place. To be doing something, together with members of other movements, each with its own charism, is not easy. It is very similar to the getting of religious orders together, to support and help each other, with no other aim but God’s glory, the good of the Church and of humanity.

Background Picture on the Stage Screens

Participants on the day – described as ‘An A-Z of New Life in the Church’ – included: Ascent, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Chemin Neuf Community, Faith Café, Focolare, Jesus Youth, L’Arche, Madonna House, The Maranatha Community, Mothers Prayers, Neo-Catechumenal Way, Schoenstatt, St. Egidio, Sword of the Spirit, Sion Community, Teams of Our Lady and Youth 2000.

Archbishop Nichols opened the day and thanked everyone present for the way they enrich the life of the Church, concluding: “I do hope that the Church may ever grow from the gifts given to you and through you passed on to so many others”.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor said it was significant that Pope Francis’ first visit, outside Rome, was to meet the asylum refugees from Africa, on Lampedusa, many of their colleagues having died at sea, on their ‘escape to freedom’. The Cardinal said: “He sees God as you and I should. He sees God everywhere. Pope Francis is a witness before he is a teacher.” He said Pope Francis has challenged the Church and each Christian to go out, beyond themselves, because the world needs to meet God in order to find its identity, to find justice, peace and unity.  He ended by saying: “I want to assure you how much the Church values you. The Movements are a vital part of the Church … And we are very blessed in our country to have all of you. It gives me encouragement.”

Inside the Hall

To summarise the meeting, in brief: Every movement leads people to have a personal encounter with Jesus; to meet him, in different ways. The ideal of unity was manifesting with almost every movement – each one, almost without exception, being ecumenical in its expression. Twenty ‘Movements’ were present; the organisation was splendid and took place in a ‘seamless’ way without a hitch; it was as though some unseen hand was directing, quietly, silently, from behind the scenes. The 1600 present represent others who could not come so easily, all of whom love the Church, and want to further its mission, as God is leading us so to do.

 Many from different groups sing together “We Believe in Love”

For me, a very ‘bright light’ came from L’Arche, and their Service users, who are very severely handicapped – much more than those we might see at Church on Sundays. Some might say that such men and women should be quietly looked after and kept out of normal circulation; that would really put them on the edges of normal society. During the day, there was one lad in a wheel-chair, who shouted out during the whole day, loudly, filling the hall with noise. It was not constant, but intrusive and, at first, I wondered how the speakers would cope; I found myself resenting his presence. Then the ‘penny’ slowly ‘dropped’ for me – he was joining in, doing so in the only way he could, knowing from his L’Arche experience that he was loved and cherished – and my attitude began to change. His total inadequacy was saved by the knowledge that he loved, and was being loved, and this helped me to appreciate the totality of my own real worth and value. What a constant conversion it is, truly, to know that I am loved, not by God alone, but by the others who are trying to live, and love me, in God!

Kevin, from L’Arche, emphasised the same point. He spoke of his encounter with Edith, a person with multiple disabilities, whose life had been devoid of love. The movement’s founder, Jean Vanier, says that to love someone, is to reveal to them that they are precious. Over the years, Kevin revealed to Edith, that she was precious, that she was valued and loved. He said: “What is remarkable and life-changing, and potentially world-changing, is that Edith had become someone whose respect I needed, someone by whom I measured myself.  Edith had revealed to me that I was precious, that I was loved.”

L’ Arche Community Mime

The L’ Arche Community also did a mime: it was beautiful to behold, as they passed love from one to the other, and then to everyone. During this mime a lady who was severely mentally handicapped, and yet as free and happy as a bird, walked and danced around the stage. She was only very gently led away, with much love and no comments, when she rather interfered with what was going on. Nobody minded, and everyone continued their simple acting; it was a moment of peaceful love, without anger or rancour – and it was beautiful.

Celia, from Focolare, said: “Sometimes the movements are looked upon with scepticism or suspicion. Are they ‘happy-clappy’? Is it a ‘frothy’ faith? Are they ‘right wing’? Or ‘left wing’? Do they take people away from the parish? In reality they enable people to walk in the normality of life in God, and to find their role in the parish or anywhere else.”

Gary, from Schoenstatt, said: “We aren’t traditional, we aren’t progressive – we are Christians in a modern world. We want to help to build the Church we love, to support people in their faith, in their hope and in their love. We want to show that Christianity is more than a ‘decoration’. It is a way to live, a different quality of life. I stopped being the person that took the odd collection at Church to being fully active and doing my bit. I learnt that it’s not just about doing the massive things, it’s doing a lot of small things that have the biggest impact.”

This wonderful day lasted from 10.30am to 5.15pm and it was over in a ‘flash’. It has left me pondering; reflecting and praising God in my heart; realising that God is working away, even in Britain, and this despite all appearances!

Fr. Jonathan