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Week 1: “The Church Facing Divisions”

This week, I found it very helpful to learn about the history and contexts of the divisions in the Church. Day 1 framed the problem of division from a mission standpoint; according to Fr. Jim, “The mission of the Gospel is diminished by our own divisions within Christianity.” This is the problem addressed by the ecumenical movement. The cause of division tends to be our own human weakness. It doesn’t primarily stem from diversity or disagreement, but pride, anger, selfishness, misunderstanding, even imprudence. Martin Luther was motivated to call out the Catholic Church because they were greedily promoting the sale of indulgences; the Catholic Church was too slow in responding to the reformers (imprudence is not just acting too hastily, but also acting too slowly); and so on. I deeply appreciate Fr Jim’s response towards what we have to do to work towards unity: love. Love cannot be emphasized enough. Considering the idea that the cause of division is usually human weakness, we need mo...
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Apse Mosaic of St. Paul’s Outside the Wall   As I reflect on Ecumenical and interreligious movements in Rome after having visited Churches dedicated to two great pillars of Christianity : St Paul and St. Peter, the patron saints of Rome, I can only ponder on their remarkable witness to Chrisitanity. Long before modern ecumenical movements, Paul was already living this spirit of unity. Through God's grace, he cultivated dialogue; dialogue to different beliefs and cultures spreading Christianity to the Mediterranean world, a journey which culminated in Rome; Paul resolutely proclaimed Christ and laid the foundations of a universal Church.  Saint Paul Outside the Walls Interestingly, I had the opportunity to visit Malta before beginning this course. What a delight it was to discover its ancient archeology and historical heritage. From megalithic temples of Malta (the oldest in the world) to the Bonze age, Roman rule, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, the Knights of Saint John, Ottomans, F...
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"We live in the tension." - Travis Neuman

 Throughout my Jesuit formation, I've heard repeatedly the phrase, "we live in the tension." Jesuits should feel comfortable walking in the margins and with the marginalized. Our evangelical efforts are like a tide that goes in and out. It goes out, we meet people "where they are," and sometimes for no other reason than to accompany them. Other times, the tide comes in, we invite said people into the faith, to belong to the Church - the fullness of the faith with all the Church's sacraments. In no way contradicting that, the Holy Spirit obviously works inside and outside the Church. (Two of my personal heroes belong to the 4-square Christian (of the Pentecostal tradition I learned this week) denomination, and the other is a devout wickan (Mother Earth-spirituality devotee), and the Holy Spirit works clearly in both of them.  The ambivalence OF MY LIFE is how some native tribes - as depicted in historical fictitious work Dances With Wolves - could look like t...
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The Church

 I am someone who has spent most of my life ‘un-churched’. I was raised Roman Catholic, and very involved in my church at university in the late 70’s. I listened to priests who were informed by ressourcement theologians. We were discovering a world of integrity beneath the hierarchies and the aesthetics.  It felt to me like a fresh breeze was blowing through the church. It was no longer something I attended or watched, but something I was engaged in. We chose our prayers with care, we opened our hearts, and we brought our sense of God’s presence into our daily lives. We discussed the Bible during service and baked our own bread for the Eucharist. It was deeply meaningful. But when Pope John Paul II came to the papacy and pulled back on all that openness, I felt betrayed. I felt particularly that women had been shut out. Not by God – but by the church. I never stopped feeling God’s presence in my life, praying for insight and offering gratitude, but my idea of what ‘church’ w...
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Post 1: Grace and Wonders In my first post, I want to express the first feeling that I experienced in the Eternal City. Last Sunday, when I left Toronto to come to Rome, I was deeply moved emotionally. I kept reminding myself that a great moment in my life was approaching with my presence in the Eternal City. After one week, I realize this experience has been a profound learning opportunity for me.  I was mostly silent, overwhelmed by the wonderful things I could touch, see, and feel throughout the city. For me, the simple fact of being in Rome represents a learning experience for all my senses. Throughout this week, I was living in this grace state that invited me to be in wonder and gratitude, and I wanted to invite all my friends, family, and the U of T community to help me. As Arthur Rimbaud said to his father the first time he saw the sea: “Father, help me.” Confronted with the vastness of the sea, Arthur sought to capture more than just the courage visible in his eyes. Simila...
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Week 1: Fiesser’s First Ecumenical Reflections

Monday, June 22, 2026   What are Catholic Perspectives on Ecumenical Dialogue & Inter-religious Movements?           As I begin my course on ecumenical discussions and inter-religious movements, I find myself feeling a little anxious, or perhaps excited, about beginning this journey toward discernment in Rome.  I don’t quite know what to expect and I’m travelling away from home for three weeks, so I know this learning is important- I just don’t know what the application will look like in terms of my faith and work responsibilities, but I do know as an elementary teacher and catechesis instructor, that when our communities are strong, God is always there walking with us.       The Holy Spirit is calling me to further explore John 17:21, when Jesus said, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you.”   How can I contribute to Christ’s goal of a more unified church?  Is this possible and how c...
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Welcome to the Ecumenism Course in Rome! I’m So Glad You’re Here!

 Hello, Everyone, My name is Melissa Fiesser, and I am so happy to be your classmate this summer in Rome as we take this Ecumenism course together.  I am looking forward to getting to know you as we explore Catholic Interfaith Dialogue in the eternal city.  I can’t wait! Please watch this short video about me so we can get to know each other a little better. https://youtu.be/6ob3JFWJWP8?si=D4WUedz-g4iF-BXm   I’m excited to learn more about my faith (and blogging) this summer and I’m so glad you’ve decided to accompany me on this journey.  By learning about the history of different faith origins, I hope to increase my comfort level with interfaith dialogue.  Discernment is so important during these discussions. Our experience in Rome will provide some real-world experiences that I cannot read in a text.  These opportunities will help me understand with Church unity looks like and feels like to ensure I communicate and collaborate in my community ro...
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