Tri Diocesan Covenant

The annual Ecumenical Service of Worship marking the Tri-Diocesan Covenant was held last week in the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Broken Bay. In 2008, Bishop Michael Malone, then Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, Bishop David Walker of the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay and Bishop Brian Farran of the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle publicly signed a Covenant pledging their Churches to pray, minister and worship together where possible. This Covenant has been celebrated each year since then, in each of the dioceses in turn.

Bishops Peter Comensoli of Broken Bay, Greg Thompson and Peter Stuart of Newcastle and Bill Wright of Maitland-Newcastle were joined by members of each diocesan community.

The homily was preached by Maitland-Newcastle’s Missionary of Mercy, Richard Shortall sj, who was commissioned by Pope Francis in Rome in January.

The prayer of intercession captured many of the longings shared by all Christian communities, particularly when the nation is preparing to vote in a federal election. In the Year of Mercy, the assembly prayed, “For all who long for mercy – that they experience the boundless mercy of God and become merciful as God is merciful.”

Despite the low temperatures, one member of the assembly described the liturgy as “very prayerful and moving”.

Photographs courtesy of Annie Carrett, Diocese of Broken Bay.

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Tracey Edstein Image
Tracey Edstein

Tracey Edstein is a member of the Raymond Terrace Parish and a freelance writer with a particular interest in church matters.