Skip to main navigation | Skip to local links | Skip to search engine

Monthly Column: That All May Be One

This monthly column is written by Father Rick Ginther, director of the office, and published in the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, The Criterion.

Links to the columns below are from newest to oldest.

2025

Nov. 16 talk to highlight interreligious dialogue, Vatican II document
The Church is the universal instrument, the sacrament of salvation
Overcoming polarization to build on our ecumenical, interreligious dialogue
Our Creator loves those who live with gentleness, solidarity and compassion
Prayer is integral element in building bridges of faith in ecumenical efforts
A common date for Easter in the East and West? Yes, may it be so
Wanted: Your questions about ecumenical and interreligious topics
Creed’s anniversary, date of Easter offer hope for coming together in jubilee

2024

May ‘festival of lights’ strengthen bonds with our Jewish brethren
Catholic-Lutheran dialogue is building bridges across faith traditions
Festival reminds us religions are a mystery to embrace with love
‘Exploring peace’ is theme for this year’s Festival of Faiths on Sept. 15
Eiteljorg exhibit reveals lack of ecumenical spirit in early west
Christians believe Mary plays important role in God’s plan of salvation
Passover celebrates Jews’ liberation from slavery into freedom
Paschal season offers hope to our Muslim, Jewish brothers and sisters
Prayerful rituals are meant to be sensitive to others’ spiritual journey
Like a priest and a pope, let us pray that ‘all may be one’

2023

Pray for unity across faith traditions throughout the world
‘Love of God’ is at the heart of many other people’s faith traditions
Irvington churches use October celebration to connect in faith
A primer on our Jewish brethren and their High Holy Days of faith
Interreligious relationships can enrich personal, spiritual life
A journey in ecumenical and interreligious ministry
Building relationships must be at the heart of ecumenism
Common humanity of faith traditions is on display in spring
Good Friday prayers are filled with God’s hope for salvation
Lent is an opportunity to fully embrace the effects of salvation
Sacred friendship conversations build bridges in ecumenism

2022

Week making Christian unity a sign of universality for believers
Catholics, other faiths seek and live truths to guide behavior
Ecumenical group offers witness to ‘reconciling power of Jesus’
Atonement, reconciliation are a part of many world religions
‘Fabric of traditions’ to be on display at annual Festival of Faiths
Archbishop Thompson continues work of unity among faiths
When can Catholics and other denominations pray together?
Connections between Passover, Easter a source of interreligious joy
Let us pray for churches tied to ongoing Ukraine struggle
This Lent, be more conscious of what faith traditions share
For Christian unity, a prayer to change our hearts

2021

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a sign of universality
A pope’s message for the unity of faith still resonates
Catholic-Methodist dialogue builds bridges of faith
Many faith traditions are committed to care for creation
Festival of Faiths, Week of Prayer are opportunities for unity
Respect for other religions a blessing on our faith journey
Tragedy offers ‘teachable moment’ about Sikh community
Take time to appreciate the faith and goodness in the stranger
Celebrations are part of other faith traditions this time of year
Ecumenism offers practical, pastoral ways to live out the Gospel
Relation building among faiths creates Christian unity

2020

Pope’s new encyclical has universal religious application
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is for all humanity
Let’s honor the search of other religions seeking meaning
Interreligious dialogue has its roots in Vatican II
A time to reflect, pray and journal on the issue of privilege
Virtual celebrations currently the norm for faith traditions
Let us honor what is true and good in other religions
The connections of Passover to our observance of Holy Week
Focolare offers an avenue to building bridges of faith
The Word of God is an interreligious link to people of faith

2019

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a chance to build bridges
Dialogue provides a great service in the name of unity
Celebration takes priest back to his Judeo-Christian roots
Festival shows universal Church embraces reality of diversity
‘Festival of Faiths’ allows us to embrace diversity in our midst
The ‘less traveled road’ of ecumenical and interreligious ministry
Snubs well worth the price of building unity among God’s people
Plant seeds of kindness with Muslim neighbors during Ramadan
Dialogue with others leads to peace, say interreligious leaders
Website offers resources in ecumenical and interreligious ministry
Melody of ecumenism can complement, lead to harmony of faiths

2018

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity a chance for us to ‘be one’
As followers of Christ, we are called to a radical love of all
Religious misconceptions are rooted in ignorance, half-truths
Dialogues of life, action to be highlighted at Festival of Faiths
Interfaith and ecumenical resources available for us all
The root of ecumenical efforts is Jesus’ command to love
Ecumenical partners are called to speak that others might hear
2018 Interfaith Ambassadors build bridges with dialogue
Improved Christian unity still does not include sharing in sacraments
Building bridges is goal of interreligious relationships, dialogue
Directory on Ecumenism seeks to guide us on journey to unity

2017

Annual worship service offers chance for faiths to be one in prayer
Volunteer, make time to fulfill the mission of loving your neighbor
Reflection on Compostela leads to statement on the way to unity
Unity is at heart of efforts to transform Lutheran-Catholic relations
Ecumenism may one day lead to time when all will ‘be one’
Risk of dialogue with other faiths can bear much fruit
Meeting the challenge of building civility through faith
‘Shall you wash my feet?’ A question worth pondering
Observance of Lent a part of many denominations
Nation can follow example of civility among faiths
Let’s strive to create ecumenical moments in our lives of faith

2016

Spirit will be present at Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
‘From conflict to communion’ must be at heart of dialogue
Oct. 31 prayer service to mark Catholic-Lutheran dialogue
Caring, compassion integral to many faith traditions
Festival of Faiths to highlight religions’ history in state
Make ‘resourcing’ of faiths part of your summer to-do list
Spirit’s work is evident at gathering on Christian unity
Uniting around paschal mystery could be a step toward unity
Whether Christian, Muslim or Jew, God deserves our worship
Despite what some say, all religions are not the same
Christmas letter from Muslim highlights spirit of ecumenism

2015

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity a step toward all being one
May the Spirit of God continue to move us in ecumenical efforts
Oct. 25 Jewish-Catholic dialogue to feature Archbishop Tobin, Rabbi Cook
Let’s continue to prayer for unity with our sister churches
Aug. 30 Festival of Faiths focuses on ‘oneness’ which binds believers
Methodist-Catholic dialogue echoes pope’s environment encyclical
Dialogue helps Christians and Jews learn from each other
Annual workshop on Christian unity builds bridges of faith
Spirit will lead ecumenical participants to fulfill Jesus’ call for unity
Justification is fruit of dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans
Ecumenism includes personal conversion, institutional renewal
Let’s not turn back on ongoing work, progress toward unity

2014

Common prayer among Christians promotes unity
Where the rubber meets the road in our outreach to others
The prayer of the Church furthers Christian unity
Work of ecumenism belongs to us all

Related: Latest News Stories

Office of Ecumenism