Paul Couturier Anniversary Year 2003

24th March 2003 marked the Fiftieth Anniversary of the death of the Abbé Paul Couturier, the visionary priest from Lyon who was the great advocate of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Not a member of the official hierarchy, nor an academic, his life's work to pray and work for the unity of all Christians according to the mind of Christ was achieved through strong bonds of friendship across cultural, national and ecclesiastical divides. These influences on the life of many upon and beyond his own Roman Catholic world resonate to this day, and include the ecumenical community at Taizé in France, the joint eastern-western monastery at Chevetogne in Belgium, the Orthodox whom he first encountered as refugees from Russia, the Reformed Churches, and from the 1930s his interest in the Anglican Communion.



The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fourvière,
an ancient pilgrimage site crowning the city of Lyon,
where the Abbé went to say his first mass
after release from the Gestapo prison

Perhaps it is not unfair to say that the huge commitment to ecumenism at the Second Vatican Council, and the commitment of church leaders and theologians to build church unity in the late 20th century, owe much to Paul Couturier's life of prayer and devotion to the mutual gifts of Christian friendships.

His work is still continued by the Centre Unité Chrétienne in Lyon. The network of friendships, joint projects, international links, and ecumenical bonds between churches and countries has continued to grow. Throughout 2003 it was possible to celebrate the Abbé's memory with events and publications, and so ensure that, even when official progress may be slow and painstaking, the close contacts among ordinary Christians continue to drive forward the cause of Unity.

'Heart speaks to heart' (St Augustine).
'That they all may be one'.
Cor ad cor loquitur.

The Spiritual Ecumenism of Paul Couturier and the Challenges of the Present Day: Lyon 2002

The now renamed Passerelle Abbé Paul Couturier

Lyon & Francheville
8 - 10 November 2002

Interconfessional University Colloquium
 
Centre Saint-Irénée - Centre Unité Chrétienne - Faculté de Théologie de Lyon 

 

Friday 8 November - Catholic University of Lyon - Salle Jean-Paul II

7-30 pm
Welcome to Participants
by Mgr Francois Tricard, Rector of the Catholic University of Lyon, and Xavier Lacroix, Dean of the Faculty of Theology

9-00 pm
Introduction to the Colloquium
Fr Pierre Lathuilière, director of the Centre Unité Chrétienne

Paul Couturier, a Lyon priest in his time
Address and Discussion led by Étienne Fouilloux, Professor Emeritus at Lyon 2

Saturday 9 November - Maison St Joseph

9-00 am
The Abbé Couturier and England
Address and Discussion led by the Revd Canon Roger Greenacre, former co-president of the joint Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission

10-45 am
Discussion on historical themes
Brother Emile from Taizé: The Perspective from Taizé
Christian Chanel: Painstakingly Planting Spiritual Ecumenism in Sweden
Mme Marie Gostanian: The Twenty-Four Hours Prayer of Nerses

11-45 am
Ecumenical Service with the brethren from Taizé

2-30 pm
Spiritual Ecumenism - an Orthodox View
Address and Discussion led by Fr André Borelly, Orthodox priest and philosophy lecturer

4-00 pm
The Christian Faith and the Necessity of Unity
Address and Discussion led by Bernard Rondorf, Professor in the Faculty of Protestant Theology at Geneva

5-45 pm
Discussion on theological themes
Father Jean Alberti: Canon Richard, theologian, interpreter and mentor for the Abbé Couturier
Mme Nathalie Malabre: Carlhian, Remillieux and Couturier
Pastor Marc Spindler: The missionary dimension of Spiritual Ecumenism
Father Pierre Michalon: The Invisible Monastery

8-30 pm
The Christian Faith and the Imperative of Unity
Address and Discussion led by Dom Thaddée Barnas of the Abbey of Chevetogne in Belgium

10-00 pm
A Musical and Spiritual Introduction for the Night
John 17.21 sung in Arabic - Father Paul Rouhana

Sunday 10 November - Maison St Joseph 

9-00 am
The Abbé Couturier, Spiritual Ecumenism and the Community of Grandchamp
Address and Discussion led by Sister Minke, former prioress of the Protestant Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland

The Abbé Couturier and Taizé
Fabien Gaulué, researching a doctorate in history

10-30 am
Short discussion on spiritual themes
Dominique Beloeil: The introduction and growth of the Week of Prayer for Unity in Western France, 1945-1959
Father Paul Rouhana: Spiritual Ecumenism as a service to the Christian presence in the Middle East
Father Pierre Lathuilière: The unity of prayer and worship
Father René Beaupère: Spiritual brightness with a grey background - Couturier the teacher

11-30 am
Ecumenical Service led by the Sisters of Saint Andrew

2-00 pm
The Future of Spiritual Ecumenism
A 'round table' of ecumenical networks, led by Mme Anne-Maire Gérard, former editor-in-chief of 'Unité Chrétienne'

Conclusions and Thanks
Fr René Beaupère, director of the Centre St-Irénée, and Father Pierre Lathuilière

4-30 pm
A Tour in the Footsteps of Paul Couturier

Honorary Council of Reference

Cardinal Louis-Marie Billé
Archbishop of Lyon

Pastor Jean-Arnold de Clermont
President of the Protestant Federation of France

The Rt Revd Geoffrey Rowell
Anglican Bishop of Europe

Metropolitan Jérémie
President of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France, and of the Conference of European Churches

Cardinal Walter Kasper
President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity

Pastor Konrad Reiser
Secretary General of the World Council of Churches

Mgr Norvan Zakarian
Bishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Lyon


Centre Unité Chrétienne
2 rue Jean Carriès
69005 Lyon
France

Tel: +33 (0)4 78 42 11 67
Fax: +33 (0)4 72 77 68 99

Also, see the website of the Catholic University of Lyon