On June 8th, our Parish of St. Dominic’s, Camberwell, Vic, celebrated a deeply moving Ecumenical Vespers, marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Our small community attended the prayer service together with the Dominican community and members of different churches.
The sacred moment unfolded with reverence, as we welcomed our sisters and brothers from various churches into our shared sacred space. What united us was greater than what divides us: our common love for Christ and our collective longing for His peace in a fragmented world.
The vespers, steeped in centuries old tradition, were a luminous sign of hope and unity. Psalms were sung, Scripture proclaimed, and prayers lifted heavenward not as many voices, but as one Body. The diversity of languages, liturgical styles, and spiritual expressions reminded us of the richness of the Christian faith across traditions. And yet, through it all, a beautiful harmony prevailed, a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit among us.
Presiding ministers and pastors from different churches led various parts of the service, each contributing from their unique spiritual tradition while honouring the presence of the other. A shared homily, offered in alternating voices, spoke of unity not as uniformity but as communion rooted in the prayer of Jesus “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).
There was a spirit of humility and joy in the sanctuary, grounded in the awareness that true Christian unity is not achieved by human effort alone but through shared prayer, dialogue, and mutual love.
After the vespers, the fellowship continued around a light supper, lovingly prepared by us and members of different communities. There, the tables became an extension of the altar places of encounter, conversation, and laughter. The breaking of bread, though simple, became deeply symbolic: a sign of hospitality, friendship, and the hope that one day we may all break the Eucharistic Bread together.
This evening was more than a conclusion to a week of prayer; it was a beginning. A beginning of renewed commitment to walk the path of ecumenism not as a duty, but as a call to love. In solidarity, familiarity, and spiritual friendship, we go forward, bearing witness to the unity that is already present and yet still unfolding. May the seeds of this gathering grow into deeper communion. And may our shared prayer continue to echo long after the candles have been extinguished: Come, Holy Spirit, and make us one.
