At the end of the Octave of Prayer for Chritian Unity some words from Archbishop Cushley originally delivered at the signing of the St Margaret Declaration 2022 in Dunfermline Abbey

The declaration is a consciously new approach to ecumenism, an attempt to re-imagine the path towards Christian unity.

"Instead of listing our problems and points of friction or grievance, old or new, the Declaration chooses to focus on what we have in common and underline that we treasure together, so much that is inspiring and ancient, profound and beautiful.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder before an unbelieving world and we wish to respect each other, to be a support to each other, and to do all we can to achieve the unity that the Lord prayed for.

"And if St Margaret and the first men who came here nearly a thousand years ago were here with us now, I would like to think that they would welcome and approve of us setting out in this way.

"In friendship, to face the next thousand years, not as enemies or rivals, but as sisters and brothers and friends in Jesus Christ."

http://www.evangelizatio.va/content/dam/pcpne/image/DomenicadellaParola/2025/ENG%20Sussidio%20DPD%2025%20v1.pdf

📜HOLY LAND COORDINATION 2025: FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ

✍️Our visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank has concluded with the issuing of the annual Holy Land Coordination Communiqué. The statement for 2025 addresses the announcement of a ceasefire, the impact of both the war and the ongoing occupation on Palestinians in the West Bank, and highlights the invaluable contributions that the Christian communities make to the fields of healthcare and education. It is signed by bishops from the UK, Germany, Spain, USA, and Iceland, including by Archbishop Nolan. Some excerpts from the statement are quoted below followed by a link to read the full text.

💬"We came to the Holy Land, this Jubilee Year, as pilgrims of hope. We came in hope that a fragile ceasefire agreement, announced as we travelled here, would hold. We came looking forward to those, in both Israel and Palestine, who have suffered the atrocities of violence and war, being able to rebuild their shattered lives, to mourn the loss of their loved ones, to come together again as families and to start on the long, uncertain road to recovery..."

💬"The impact of war on the whole West Bank is rarely reported at home. We have
been privileged to listen first-hand to several communities of Christians in the West Bank. To them we wish to say:
'Thank you for the most generous welcome you extended towards us; for helping us understand the extraordinary efforts being made in the fields of healthcare and education to preserve the dignity of all those living in the West Bank. Your communities are a light in the darkness of a suffering Land. We were moved to hear how often Christians expressed their commitment to stay and rebuild the lives of their people...'".

🔗Read the Holy Land Coordination 2025 Final Communiqué in full here: www.theholyland.org.uk/final-communique-of-the-holy-land-co-ordination-18-23-january-2025/

📜HOLY LAND COORDINATION 2025: FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ

✍️Our visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank has concluded with the issuing of the annual Holy Land Coordination Communiqué. The statement for 2025 addresses the announcement of a ceasefire, the impact of both the war and the ongoing occupation on Palestinians in the West Bank, and highlights the invaluable contributions that the Christian communities make to the fields of healthcare and education. It is signed by bishops from the UK, Germany, Spain, USA, and Iceland, including by Archbishop Nolan. Some excerpts from the statement are quoted below followed by a link to read the full text.

💬"We came to the Holy Land, this Jubilee Year, as pilgrims of hope. We came in hope that a fragile ceasefire agreement, announced as we travelled here, would hold. We came looking forward to those, in both Israel and Palestine, who have suffered the atrocities of violence and war, being able to rebuild their shattered lives, to mourn the loss of their loved ones, to come together again as families and to start on the long, uncertain road to recovery..."

💬"The impact of war on the whole West Bank is rarely reported at home. We have
been privileged to listen first-hand to several communities of Christians in the West Bank. To them we wish to say:
'Thank you for the most generous welcome you extended towards us; for helping us understand the extraordinary efforts being made in the fields of healthcare and education to preserve the dignity of all those living in the West Bank. Your communities are a light in the darkness of a suffering Land. We were moved to hear how often Christians expressed their commitment to stay and rebuild the lives of their people...'".

🔗Read the Holy Land Coordination 2025 Final Communiqué in full here: www.theholyland.org.uk/final-communique-of-the-holy-land-co-ordination-18-23-january-2025/

🙏