|
Director: Fr. Alfred S. Baca Assistant: Mary Susa e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Wednesday only)
About the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs: The Second Vatican Council has placed Christian unity and interreligious dialogue as a priority for both the universal and local Church. Ecumenism refers to all who bear the name Christian working together for unity, or to achieve what is called "full Communion". All Christians must recall that the night before Jesus died he prayed that "all his disciples may be one" a testimony that he is the Savior of the world (Jn. 17). "The restoration of unity among all Christians was one of the main concerns of the Second Vatican Council. The division among Christians openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature." (Decree on Ecumenism, 1) Interreligious affairs refers to our relationship with all religious traditions other than Christians.
"Interreligious dialogue does not merely aim at mutual understanding and friendly relations. It reaches a much deeper level, that of the spirit, where exchange and sharing consist in a mutual witness to one's belief and a common exploration of one's respective religious conviction. (Dialogue and Proclamation, 40)
The 1993 Directory for Ecumenism instructs the bishop to establish a body of representatives who will assist the diocese in this important ministry. In the Diocese of Orange the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs is
The Director, appointed by the Bishop, and as his representative develops and coordinates all official dialogues with all Christian and non-Christian communities in the Diocese. He is assisted by the Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Commission in carrying out the responsibilities and duties of the Office. The Ecumenical and Interreligous Affairs Officer for the Diocese of Orange is Rev. Alfred Baca who was appointed by Bishop Tod Brown in July of 2006. Fr. Al was born in Orange County and entered St John's Seminary in Camarillo in 1982 where he completed his studies and in 1989 was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orange. After four parish assignments, Father Baca was sent to Rome for further study. He studied for two years at the University of St. Thomas (the Angelicum) and completed his license in the area of Ecumenism. Returning to the Diocese in 2005, Fr. Baca was appointed the pastor of St. Cecilia Church in Tustin. As Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Officer Fr. Baca is assisted by the Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Commission. Members of the Commission are: Resources
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Homily of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco - July 29, 2008
Notes by the Ecumenical Commission St. Pauls Vespers Report - July 29, 2008
 |
|||||||||||||||
|
