The Corrymeela community invited members of the Focolare and the L’Arche community to participate in their annual working weekend which took place between 25-27th August this year.

The initiative to meet and share projects and support and prayer for one another began with  a meeting in Stuttgart in 2004 when representatives of different Christian Movements throughout the continent initiated a project to build a “culture of reciprocity” establishing relationships of reciprocity while fully respecting their diversity. This led to to establishment of a little group meeting regularly in Belfast and sharing invitations to various events and to share stories and prayer.

The beautiful Corrymeela setting on the north coast of Ireland next to Ballycastle  enabled the workers-weeders and gardeners -painters, to engage in moments of reflection together each morning and evening in the “Croi” which is the heart of the Centre.

Conversations over meals and in the midst of weeding, pruning, moving manure, and painting, were opportunities to deepen friendships, partnerships and experience that “unity” which is at the heart of our Christian mission beyond denominations or belonging to diverse works in the church.

Personally it was an opportunity to be thankful to God for an experience of how much more effective  we are working together ! You could see the difference at the end in the beauty of the place and in the joy of the faces as each of us went back to our daily routines enriched and refreshed by expanding and deepening friendships!

Irene Jovaras