A HOLIDAY WALK... an Ecumenical Initiative

By Sister Rita Wenzlick, OP
Director
Office of Pastoral Planning, Diocese of Lansing

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Understanding Christian religions as well as world religions is oftentimes a topic that is not on the top 10 list of most who provide faith enrichment opportunities. When relationships are built on understanding who people are in relationship to God and what we believe about God, how we live is often determined by those relationships. As our world turns, seizing opportunities, such as the one described here, are important.

For the past two years, Saint Matthew Parish in Flint has made an intentional effort to be a welcoming parish and to form communities of faith which are inclusive, receptive and committed to spiritual and social development. One successful action step in this endeavor came out of monthly meetings of an ecumenical gathering called the Downtown Church Alliance in Flint. Originally, five to eight pastors met regularly. Based on a shared belief in the same Triune God, one desired goal is to draw Christians together to see what can be done to foster the Gospel, peace, and reconciliation in the world. As an outgrowth of the downtown pastors’ meeting, and in an effort to strategize vision to action, a lay group of representatives from each of the downtown Churches meet and work toward some kind of coordination of the work of the various downtown church communities. This lay group is known as the Downtown Church Alliance. One initiative was named A HOLIDAY WALK.

The invitation included an invitation to members of the downtown churches to take a walking tour of their churches. All the area churches were opened for touring on the same Sunday afternoon over several hours. Members of the various churches moved from church to church where each included a guided tour. The architecture of the church was explained as were the functions of its various areas, particularly that of the sanctuary, the windows and the assembly area. Handouts were distributed and refreshments were served.

While these tours were taking place, musicians provided background music and an atmosphere of respect and quiet prevailed. Shuttle bus service was available for those
who chose to use it to move from site to site. This initiative made it possible for people to visit other Christian churches and these visits fostered camaraderie with other religious congregations. With assistance from the Alliance, the pastors consistently seek ways to bring people together to broaden and deepen understanding of their respective religions.

Saint Matthew Church was a highlight in the Holiday Walk. The church is a downtown church with magnificent architecture. Saint Matthew’s pastor, Father Fred Taggart, believes that many people of other Christian faiths have never been in a Catholic church. They do not know many Catholics nor do many of them know what Catholics believe. Many who came through the church during the Holiday Walk had questions not only about the architecture and windows, but also about things like the confessional and Stations of the Cross.
In this same vein, on other occasions, Humanities groups from various colleges in the area have toured the Church because of their interest in its design. The professors make sure that students know it is a place of reverence and upon entering the church, an atmosphere of reverence prevails. Father Taggart welcomes these groups because he strongly believes that understanding strengthens relationships and acceptance of Catholics will only deepen in those who avail themselves of these opportunities. These are wonderful and unthreatening ways to catechize those of other faiths.

The Holiday Walk at Saint Matthew intentionally coincided with “Welcome Home Sunday.” As the tours were taking place in the upper church, those interested in returning to the Church or learning more about what it means to be a Catholic were invited to join the meeting in the lower area of the church and take a journey of another kind. Father Taggart is very clear about respecting other Christian traditions: “We are not out to convert Protestants, but we want to share with Protestants who we are and what we believe”.

There is an advantage among the downtown churches in Flint because they are just a few blocks of each other. Father Taggart says “I enjoy hosting the event and the people of the downtown churches are good people.” The Downtown Church Alliance pastors do not want to have people lose interest in this type of event, and planning is underway for a different but similarly-intended event. With the success of Holiday Walk behind them, the Alliance has a ready made audience and is limited only by their own imagination.

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Person to Contact:

Father Fred H. Taggart, OSA
Pastor, St. Matthew
706 Beach Street
Flint, MI, 48502-1176
Phone: 810-232-0880
Fax: 810-232-4148