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JOINT COMMISSION FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE 
BETWEEN THE CATHOLICH CHURCH AND THE ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST

 

PRESS RELEASE

London, 6-9 November 1998

 

The Mixed Committee for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East held its 4th annual meeting from 6 to 9 November 1998. The meeting took place at the Focolare Centre for Unity (London, U.K.). In continu­ation of its previous discussions, the Mixed Commit­tee pursued its work in preparation for a common statement on sacramental life. This statement would be a further step on the theological path of rap­prochement between both Churches, after the “Com­mon Christological Declaration” was signed on 11 November 1994 by Pope John Paul II and Catholicos­Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV of the Assyrian Church of the East. The discussion has centred around com­mon elements of faith and practice regarding the sacramental life, as expressed in the respective tradi­tions of both Churches.

On Sunday 8 November all members of the Mixed Committee attended the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St. Mary's Assyrian Church of the East in Ealing. Afterwards, at the Assyrian Society of Great Britain, there was a get together with clergy and members of the Assyrian and Chaldean communities in London, as both communities belong to the same liturgical and cultural tradition. The Mixed Committee also took part in a reception offered by Cardinal Basil Hume, Archbishop of Westminster. The Sunday program was concluded with a dinner offered by St. Mary's parish committee in London.

The participants from the Catholic Church were: Bishop Pierre Duprey (Co-President), Archbishop Cyrille Selim Boustros, Archbishop Antoine Audo, Reverend Father Sarhad Jammo, Reverend Father Matthew Vellanickal and Reverend Father Johan Bonny. The participants from the Assyrian Church of the East were: Metropolitan Mar Aprem (Co-Presi­dent), Bishop Mar Bawai Soro, Reverend Archdeacon Yonan Y. Yonan, Reverend Father Gewargis Tooma and Reverend Father William Yakob. The next meet­ing of the Mixed Committee will be held in Venice from 12 to 14 October 1999.

 

[Information Service 99 (1998/IV) 220]