Photo by Christophe Duperthuy
To mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we met Frank and Clementina, an interfaith couple living in Berlin. Between joys and challenges, they share their experience and their journey towards what unites them in faith.
“We’re on our way to what unites us”.
You’re a couple of different faiths. Frank, you’re Protestant; Clementina, you’re Catholic. What does this mean to you?
“For us, this means that despite our different denominational traditions, we orientate and live our Christian faith according to what unites us, not what separates us.
Ecumenism, particularly in Germany, has gained momentum over the last century, is encouraged by both denominations and lived by the members, which we also feel as an interdenominational couple. (However, we mustn’t forget that we live in Berlin. Berlin is certainly not comparable to other cities and regions in Germany, nor to other countries.)”
What are your moments of joy in ecumenism? Where are there moments of tension?
“A joy: Together with another mixed couple, we have been running a marriage preparation course for engaged couples at the Bernhard Lichtenberg Catholic parish in Berlin for several years now. Here, too, we’re seeing an increase in the number of couples who don’t belong to just one denomination, which reinforces our commitment.
During the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we are actively involved with other Christians of different denominations in organizing an online prayer evening. The Chemin Neuf Community’s prayer for Christian unity is very touching for us, because the Holy Spirit is called to bring about Christian unity according to His will.
(Note: in the diocese of Berlin and other German dioceses, mixed couples have been able to take communion together for some time).
As a tension: a few years ago this wasn’t even possible, there was always a perceptible separation for us at Sunday mass. Clementina, as a Catholic, could take part in the Eucharist, Frank, as a Protestant Christian, received a blessing from the priest. But I, Frank, also saw this blessing as a step in the right direction.”
How can Mission CANA help mixed couples live out their faith? How did it work for you?
“The retreat weeks for couples in the CANA program, the exchange within the fraternities, i.e. with other couples, the time spent together, are, in addition to common prayer within the couple, offers and possibilities that enable couples to grow together in faith. Mutual support for couples with children is also very important, so that these couples can have time for themselves, which they don’t easily have on a daily basis.
One challenge might be to develop the CANA Welcome format to enable couples to take on pastoral work as a couple in their own parish, complementing it with mutual support through childcare as well as unconventional parish events such as dance evenings, cooking together, game nights, hikes, culture, etc. (just for fun, light-heartedly).”
Interview with Frank and Clementina from Berlin, Germany