Spirituality of communion topic of bishop’s talk
March 25, 2014
HOUSTON — Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi, will give a talk on “Living a Spirituality of Communion — in the Thought and Experience of the Focolare Movement” on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas in Scanlan Hall (4000 Mt. Vernon, in the second floor of the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center).
This talk, sponsored by the University of St. Thomas Office of Academic Affairs and the Center for Faith and Culture, is offered by the Focolare Movement to highlight the 70th Anniversary of the movement.
A second reason for the talk is to partner with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council in the effort to “educate and form the faithful in a spirituality of communion, recognizing that it embodies our vision for the future of the Archdiocese” (Objective 1, Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan).
The talk is free and open to the public with a reception afterward.
As Daniel Cardinal DiNardo points out in Fostering a Spirituality of Communion — Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Pastoral Plan: “I know that each of our communities will find the process of sharing our collective wisdom, love and hopes for the future to be valuable and recommit to promoting a true spirituality of communion for love of God and neighbor.”
Bishop Mulvey has been a member of the Focolare Movement or Work of Mary, its official name, since 1976.
As priest, pastor, chancellor of the Diocese of Austin and now as bishop of Corpus Christi, Bishop Mulvey recognizes how truly living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the spirituality of communion, can deepen one’s relationship with God and with one another.
“With communion, we can respond to every person’s deepest longing, to be one with God and their neighbors,” Bishop Mulvey said.
Bishop Mulvey met the Focolare Movement as a newly ordained priest in Rome through the silent example of 100 priests and seminarians living in the Focolare Center for Spirituality for priests. Now, more than 30 years later, the spirituality of communion animates his life.
“I find that living a spirituality of communion unites all the relationships that I live with each day and all the activities that are a part of my ministry as a bishop. It also calls me to reconcile differences through forgiveness and service. In a single word unity is the guiding principle for me and my ministry,” he said.
Although the Focolare Movement is only one example of living the spirituality of communion, Bishop Mulvey believes that this movement is one instance where the Holy Spirit provides the motivation and the means to live the Gospel message of Jesus.
“It is no surprise that the Holy Spirit should inspire within the Church new movements and spiritualties that can direct the Church to the communion that Jesus prayed for in the 17th chapter of St. John’s Gospel, and that the Holy Spirit today is calling us to live,” he said.