The Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation cohosted by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Roman Catholic Church in Sweden on October 31 last year has inspired further ecumenical steps.
From January to June this year St Thomas Catholic Church and Lund Cathedral, where the Common Prayer of the Joint Commemoration took place, are holding joint evening prayers (vespers) at 18:00 every other Saturday.
“Many people have expressed joy over the important steps that we now take towards unity. That inspires us to continue along the ecumenical path,” says Lena Sjöstrand, Cathedral chaplain at Lund Cathedral.
Father Johan Lindén of St Thomas church points out that bringing Lutherans and Catholics together in prayer is in itself not unique. However, the regular form under which the planned prayers and vespers take place marks a further step along the way for the two churches in Lund.
(Lutheran World Federation)