I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
– John 17:20-21

I think then that the one goal of all who are really and truly serving the Lord ought to be to bring back to union the churches which have at different times and in diverse manners divided from one another.
– St. Basil the Great (330 – 379), Letter 114

Lutherans and Catholic commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in a spirit of humility in 2017. The Gulf Coast Synod held services in Houston and New Orleans, with our counterparts in the Roman Catholic Church. In New Orleans, Archbishop Gregory Aymond graciously hosted the service at the St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. Additionally, the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge sponsored a dialog at St. George’s Catholic Church in Baton Rouge. At the very bottom of this post I have some 2014-2016 articles from the Clarion over the years prior to the 500th anniversary in 2017.

October 23, 2017 – St. Louis Cathedral

Archbishop Aymond before the service.
Pastor Nancy Andrews, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge.
Pastor Ron Unger, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Kenner.
Pastor Chris Christopher, Grace Lutheran Church, New Orleans
Pastora Rachel Ringlaben, Mesa Abierta, New Orleans.
I was grateful to offer the sermon.

October 24, 2017 – Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge

I was a bit too busy to get good pictures of the Dialog group, but it was well attended. I did get some lovely pictures of Saint George’s worship space below.

St. George’s Catholic Church is beautiful.
Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes

2014 Article from the Clarion

2015 Article from the Clarion

2016 Article from the Clarion

October 2017 Article from the Clarion