Holland: Day of Reconciliation

“If we continue on this road, we will be able to look beyond the walls that still exist between our Churches, and will come to the day when there will be full visible communion among us Christians.” These words were spoken by Dr Arjan Plaisier, General Secretary of the Protestant Church Synod in Holland, on the “Day of Reconciliation” that was attended by 4,000 Christians from 12 Churches and Communities. Among them there were also faithful and bishops from the Roman Catholic Church.

Over the past five years leaders of the various Churches in Holland have met regularly to share their own faith and to pray for more unity and collaboration. With its motto, “We choose unity,” this initiative began to spread through the ecclesiastical world in Holland like wildfire. It began to involve more and more leaders of the traditional Churches (Protestant Churches in Holland, Old Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church) and also Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches.

During the last meeting, in February 2012, the idea of an event at an international event was born for Chrisitans of all the Churches and Communities. Seventy members of the Focolare Movement – already involved for some time through focolarini who belong to the Reformed Church – offered their support for the success of the event that took place on the 6^th of October 2012 in Den Haag.

The highpoint of the event was the moment of reciprocal forgiveness, for the offenses that were given and received: “for the arrogance with which we have looked down on one another, for the ease with which we have lived the break with the Roman Catholic Church,” for how we have considered each other’s Church as a Church from which the Holy Spirit was absent.” Everything took place beneath a large Cross that was carried by three young people. And everything was entrusted to Christ Crucified and Risen, asking also for His forgiveness.

One witness that was offered by a Focolare couple – she Catholic and he Reformed – gave a glimpse of a possible way for continuing to love the other’s Church as one’s own.

A very touching scene was the washing of the feet by three leaders of different Churches. It was a powerful way of expressing their decision to work together at the service of the new generations: a sign of a renewed ecumenism.

“There is still much work to be done, but beginning from this event we Christians in Holland will now look at each other with new eyes,” one participant commented.

Now the “We choose unity” project will be merged in the Holland Christian Forum that will begin in 2013. It is meant to be an open forum in which representatives of all Christian Churches and Communities in Holland can express themselves. It will be a place for sharing the faith, exchange expriences and create a platform for communion and collaboration, which is a necessary basis for progressing together along the road toward full visible communion among Christians.

Hanneke Steetskamp – Holland