Aim
The aim of the Clonard/Fitzroy Fellowship is to promote contact, mutual understanding,
respect and common witness between people from the various Christian traditions in
Northern Ireland,beginning with our two local Belfast congregations of the Church, the
Presbyterian congregation at Fitzroy and the Roman Catholic congregation at Clonard.
The members of the Fellowship are drawn from the congregations who worship in Clonard Roman Catholic Church and Fitzroy Presbyterian Church. The group began in 1981 as an inter-church Bible study group set up under the inspiration of the late Fr Christopher McCarthy of Clonard Monastery and Rev. Ken Newell, Minister at Fitzroy Presbyterian Church. The number of people who take part in the group activities of the Fellowship in any year is never more than about 30 from each congregation.
While retaining its initial bible study and prayer focus the group has developed:
- As a school of Christian spirituality where each one can gradually learn about the other tradition, its spiritual strengths and weaknesses.
- As an organizer of Reconciliation Services for large congregations of the church at both Fitzroy and Clonard.
- As a forum for re-examining the traditional doctrinal differences that have divided Christians and created mistrust.
- As a forum for genuine dialogue about the conflicting political loyalties in our society.
- As a witness to other congregations of the Church, Catholic and Protestant, of the value of such a local fellowship between the two traditions.
- As an explorer quietly searching for the Reconciled and Reconciling Church that is coming to be and helping to make that Church more visible.
- As a gathering of friends who are able to socialize together and enjoy one another's culture.
- To develop mutual understanding and friendship between the Presbyterian and Roman
Catholic members of the Fellowship through:
a) meetings held in Clonard and in Fitzroy;
b) sharing in one another's worship;
c) re-affirming the doctrinal, moral and spiritual heritage which we share and re-examining the traditional doctrinal differences;
d) having an annual week-end together;
e) occasional social gatherings - e.g. a St Patrick's Day celebration.
- To foster the spiritual development of the members of the Fellowship through prayer and
through seeking a deeper understanding of the Holy Scriptures and of our respective
traditions in the following ways:
a) meetings of the full group;
b) small group meetings in each other s homes.
- To develop an ongoing dialogue with members of groups involved in the cultural and
political life of Northern Ireland - e.g. Nationalist and Unionist politicians, members of
the Loyal Orders, GAA, etc..
- To seek opportunities to share our Fellowship experience:
a) with the wider membership of the Clonard and Fitzroy Churches; and in particular, with young people.
b) with other local congregations of the Church.
Why should the Blessed Virgin Mary, on whom the Holy Spirit rested and in whom the Almighty has done great things, be a cause of misunderstanding and division in the Church? The theologian Max Thurian has written: "Instead of being a cause of division among us, Christian reflection on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary should be a cause of rejoicing and a source of prayer".
In 1967 some friends from several Christian traditions came together in England to search for ways of promoting an ecumenical understanding of Mary's place in the life of the Church. The driving force in the endeavour was Martin Gillett, then an Anglican layman. Thus the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ESBVM) came into being.
The Society has a double aim:
- To promote understanding of the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Church;
- To promote a living relationship with her in the various Christian traditions on the basis of that understanding.
Against all expectations the ESBVM quickly prospered. It attracted membership and support from Church leaders, scholars and pastors, lay theologians, and Christian people from all walks of life.
In his book "Memories and Hopes", Cardinal Suenens speaks of Martin Gillett's "supreme hope that Mary, Mother of the Church, will unite her dispersed children". And he commends the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary as "an open path towards ecumenical communion, rich in promise for the future, provided it is given the opportunities and support it needs.
The ESBVM is a registered Charity- No. 282748.
The HQ is Mr J.P. Farrelly KSG,
1 Belmont Rd,
Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8TE.
(Tel. 081.6475992)
The membership secretary is Peter Holm,
24 Frobisher Court,
Sydenham Rise,
London SE 23 (01851.291.2776.).
The annual subscription is: £10 for husband and wife, £8 for ordinary members,
£5 for senior citizen or student, £100 Life Membership.
The members receive by post each issue of the ESBVM Newsletter and all the occasional booklets as they are published.
Each local branch of the ESBVM works out its own annual programme of meetings and
events. The society has three characteristic activities:
- worship.,
- study of the life and example of the BVM;
- fellowship between the different Christian traditions.
Each meeting involves at least two of these activities.
The secretary of the Belfast branch of the ESBVM is:
Fr Paddy McCafferty, C.C.,
26 Norglen Gardens,
Belfast BTI 1 8EL.
(Tel. 01232.620168).
