Presentation by Adele Brodeur

Presentation made by Adele Brodeur, Assistant Director of the Canadian Centre

for Ecumenism, Montreal, as the Centre presented its annual

"Award for Ecumenical Leadership"

From left to right: Ray Temmerman, Fenella Temmerman, Adele Brodeur

Bishop Phillips, members of the Canadian Association of Interchurch Families and friends,

On behalf of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the presentation of the 2001 Ecumenical Leadership Award to Ray and Fenella Temmerman in recognition of their contribution to ecumenism on the local, national and international levels.

The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism facilitates understanding and cooperation among believers of various Christian traditions and world religions. It maintains collaborative links with the Canadian Council of Churches, and offers its services to individuals and organizations from all Christian churches and all World religions.

The Centre has three major areas of activity: Dialogue - The Centre participates in official national, regional and local interchurch and interfaith dialogue groups. Formation and Information - The Centre organizes conferences, sessions, study days and responds to requests for consultation. The directors and competent representatives of different faiths accept invitations to speak and organize sessions on a variety of topics: Ecumenism and Pastoral Work, Pluralism, World religions, Ecumenical Accords, amongst others.



The Centre has a worldwide publication available in English: Ecumenism and in French: Oecuménisme. It is a quarterly journal and each issue develops a central theme with articles by representatives of various churches or religions plus regular features: International and local ecumenical news, book reviews and resources. It is received by subscribers in more than 40 countries.

The Centre's library has an 8000- volume, collection and it continues to grow. It specializes in ecumenical and interreligious concerns such as: the ecumenical movement, the World Council of Churches, Christian Churches, World Religions, Interchurch and Interfaith Dialogue, Spirituality, Ecology, Ethics, etc. and receives more than 150 periodicals from different churches and ecumenical agencies worldwide.

The Centre's interdependent team of directors, secretaries, archivist, library and publishing personnel is aided by dedicated volunteers who help in the library, do secretarial work, proofreading for the magazine, contribute to the planning of interchurch and interfaith activities and represent the Centre at
kiosks and other public functions. An interdenominational Editorial Committee works together in planning and evaluating each issue of Ecumenism / Oecuménisme.

The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism was founded in 1963 by Father Irénée Beaubien, a Jesuit priest. In 1976, the Centre established an interchurch Board of Directors and obtained a federal charter. It is presently directed by Father Gilles Bourdeau, a member of the Franciscan order along with two assistant directors: Mrs. Angelika Piché, a member of the United Church of Canada and myself, Adèle Brodeur, a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

The 2001 Ecumenical Leadership Award is presented to you Ray and Fenella Temmerman for your ongoing work with interchurch families, for the creation of the Interchurch Families' web site in Canada, which is a resource for people here and around the world and for the central role you played in coordinating the International Conference of Interchurch Families held in Edmonton in August 2001. This international conference is a first in Canada; participants from 9 different countries including keynote speakers from Canada, England and the Vatican attended this important event. A report on the Edmonton Conference and summaries of the texts are available in the January 2002 issue of the Journal: Interchurch Families. 

In his message to this 10th International Conference of Interchurch Families, Bishop Marc Ouellet of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said: "Family is not only a focus of the pastoral care of the Church, but also belongs to the very communion and mission of the Church.". Vatican II depicts the family as the first and primary 'community of love and life' in the Church and the encyclical 'Familiaris Consortio' affirms that «the family, born of the sacrament of marriage, is not only a community that is 'saved' by the love of Christ; it is also a 'saving' community that shares with others the love of Christ (49).» Bishop Ouellet invited interchurch families to realize their potential as ' domestic church' and « to commit themselves to bringing about greater unity among the churches and ecclesial communities».

Brother Gilles Bourdeau, Director of The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism emphasized the mission of interchurch families in his address at the conference ( see the January 2002 issue of : Interchurch Families). Brother Bourdeau based his address on John 17: 20-26, and established a parallel between the spiritual experience of the interchurch family and the mission of Christ and the Church in the world as: "Witnesses of unity".

These testimonies reflect well, Ray and Fenella, your commitment to a life of witnessing God's love for all, in ' living the Path to Christian Unity'.

The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism congratulates you, Ray and Fenella.

Adèle Brodeur
Winnipeg, June 8th, 2002