By Sister Moira Meeghan 

 

To reflect on my experience of ecumenism, I believe that it constitutes a fundamental way of life to which we are intrinsically drawn. The commitment to ecumenism in Liverpool has evolved significantly over the years, as I have observed throughout my life. 

 

I remember joining a girl guide group at an Anglican church in St Helens aged 11. I had to get permission from Canon Fitzpatrick to attend their church parade. After Mass, my mum took me into the sacristy to speak to the canon who said that if I went to morning Mass too, he would allow it. Thankfully today, we no longer need permission to go to an Anglican church.  

 

In 1984, I joined the Sisters of St Mary of Namur and spent my noviciate in Notting Hill. From my window, I could see the Lancaster West Estate and Grenfell Tower. We attended St Francis of Assisi Church, a lively, multi-cultural parish, and had connections with the local Anglican Church of St Clement’s. During Lent, we formed ecumenical groups to discuss Sunday Scriptures and made friends with Anglicans and Methodists. We also collaborated on the Notting Hill Carnival, spending hours preparing the float and costumes together.  

 

I taught at St Francis of Assisi Primary School and even then, Grenfell Tower residents faced frequent lift breakdowns and constant fire safety concerns. One morning, a six-year-old boy came in crying without his homework. He lived on the 20th floor of Grenfell Tower and the lift was broken. Dele only remembered his homework at the bottom of the stairs and could not understand why his mum would not let him go back up the 40 flights to get it. Residents often faced difficult choices, such as mothers deciding whether to leave prams and shopping downstairs while they carried their babies up the stairs. Yet they were a caring community, with people helping each other regardless of religion or race, as we witnessed after the fire.  

 

My journey in ecumenism continued when I returned to Liverpool in 1994 and lived in the lively parish of St Margaret Mary’s, which maintained strong connections with Holy Spirit Anglican Church. I taught RE at St Margaret Mary’s Juniors, and in 1999 became deputy head at St Oswald’s Junior School, Old Swan. Then, in 2004, I was appointed head of a new joint Catholic/Anglican primary school in West Everton, Faith Primary School. Working with individuals from both traditions over the next decade was a wonderful experience. A strong connection already existed between the clergy of St Peter’s Anglican Church and the Jesuit community at SFX. Aiming to serve as a centre of learning and evangelisation, we became a central community hub for West Everton. 

 

The ‘In Harmony’ music project was initiated at the school and has shown significant growth. Moreover, the local people frequently emphasised that the school’s foundation was built on faith in God, faith in ourselves, and faith in the community. This principle was consistently demonstrated through the various challenges and triumphs we encountered.  

 

I now work for the Irenaeus project, engaging with people from various traditions through our centre of spirituality and hospitality. I trained as a spiritual director with the Anglican diocese, and we are now formally recognising it as an ecumenical venture. Spiritual accompaniment is a fundamental aspect of our work, and we uphold St Irenaeus’ assertion that “The glory of God is a person fully alive”. Thus, our goal is to empower individuals to live a life fully alive in Christ. Based on my experience, I believe that one of the most effective ways to achieve this is by fostering unity.