Twenty-five years ago, something happened that many thought impossible: Christians from different denominations, movements and communities began to listen together to God’s call to unity. These first meetings gave rise to the ecumenical network Together for Europe, which today brings together numerous and varied movements and communities across the continent.
The book “Highlights of Unity” (Sternstunden der Einheit) by Gerhard Proß and Lothar Penners traces this history of reconciliation and spiritual growth, offering numerous personal testimonies of the journey taken together.
This is not simply a chronicle, but an invitation to recognise how faith can transcend boundaries and build bridges, not only between Churches, but also within society.
The volume brings together experiences, reflections and speeches that document 25 years of shared life and invites us, in a time of division, to cultivate a “culture of togetherness”, based on mutual love and the power of the Gospel.
The book will be published in November 2025, initially only in German.
For further information and details (in German), see the page on the Together for Europe website in Germany: click here>>
See also the presentation of the book on the Schoenstatt Movement website: click here>>
On 6 May, in the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, we took part in the usual Taizé prayer.
The prayer was for Europe, with about 50 people present: it was very solemn and ecumenical, with representatives from different Churches. The intentions were prepared and read by us, at the request by the young organisers. A young friend of our network, who is now a candidate for the national parliament, was also present.
We came from four Movements: Schoenstatt, Sant’Egidio, Chemin Neuf and Focolari.
When we talk about Europe today, we talk about economic problems, disputes, conflicts and wars. Sometimes one might think that Europe is disintegrating. ‘This danger makes the work of the Together for Europe (TfE) network, which emphasises the spiritual roots of the continent, all the more valuable,’ says a journalist who has been following the network for some time.
Influencing Peace in Europe
In April 2025, the customary meeting of the Steering Committee took place in Bratislava, Slovakia. For the first time in a Central and Eastern European country, the group was hosted by the charismatic Catholic network ENC (European network of communities). Eighteen people from seven Movements and five countries represented the European network in Bratislava, among them Margaret Karram, president of the Focolare Movement, Gerhard Pross, current TfE moderator, and other leaders from Quinta Dimensione, Vineyard, Schönstatt and various YMCAs in Germany. ‘TfE would like to be at the service for Europe. Internally we are constantly practising building unity in diversity. And through this experience TfE positively influences the commitment to peace in Europe.’ This is what was affirmed by Sr. Nicole Grochowina, Christusbruderschaft in Selbitz. And then she quoted Isaiah 43:19: ‘Behold, I do a new thing, do you not see?’
A breathtaking overview
This spirit of innovation could be felt, for example, when representatives of seven local Movements, local Christian politicians (Eduard Heger, Miriam Lexmann, Viliam Karas and Branislav Skripek) and personalities from the ecclesiastical world arrived at the meeting; among them there was the nuncio Monsignor Nicola Girasoli. In a breathtaking overview, the Movements made their charisms and commitments known, many of them in the world of youth. It was a unique opportunity for mutual acquaintance not only with TfE, but also with each other and with the political world. Slovakia, politically tried, shows great inner strength. There was a profound feeling between everyone present. The next morning, representatives of ENC Slovakia arrived with their president, Alex Myskov, and expounded the reality of their network. As TfE and ENC got to know each other better, it was evident how quickly friendship grows.
Shouting from the rooftops
‘It is more important than ever not to put the experience of TfE under the bushel, but to ‘shout it from the rooftops’. Thus Margaret Karram, to encourage the Committee for future steps. She continues: ‘TfE gives an impetus to Europe to breathe with two lungs, that is, to live the dialogue between East and West’. The plans for the future, e.g. a large meeting in 2027, will be discussed in more detail at the Meeting of the Friends of TfE from 6 to 8 November 2025 in Castel Gandolfo/Rome.
The Taizé community is ecumenically oriented and has regular prayer times in the morning, at noon and in the evening, during which the famous Taizé songs, Bible reading, shared silence and participation in communion play a central role. The 60 or so brothers invite young people from all over the world to participate in their life for a week. In fact, about a thousand Portuguese young people were in Taizé at the same time as our delegation.
Meeting
The shared reading from the book of Joel (2:12-18) led the delegation to a conversation with the prior of the community, Brother Matthew, and Brothers Richard and Andreas. The text struck the readers precisely in reference to Europe, where it says: ‘Tear your hearts and not your garments’. The appeal is addressed to all generations, that they approach God with sincere devotion and ask for his mercy. On this the group agreed. Being in contact with so many young people, the brothers of Taizé also have an insight into their fears, for which they feel an urgent need to be accompanied. Taizé is therefore undoubtedly a spiritual place for young people, where they find a listening ear and understanding.
A Bridge to link Together for Europe?
How can a bridge now be built between Taizé and TfE? The trio recognised that the Brothers’ charism and their contribution to the whole, and consequently also to Europe, lies in their closeness to young people, their fidelity to their prayers and their hospitality. Now the next steps must be identified together, starting with the friendship that has become deeper. And who knows? Perhaps in the future there will be a ‘Together for Europe’ meeting of young people in Taizé? We, together with the brothers, can certainly imagine it.
Impressions
Sister Nicole, Father Raffael and Matthias returned home happy and full of joy. ‘Besides the meeting with the Taizé brothers, these days brought us closer to each other – we are among the youngest in our Steering Committee. We need such experiences. The trips we make together and the meetings with the different Movements we visit make us realise: ‘Together in Europe is alive and we go on together!’
For about four years now, before the outbreak of the large-scale war in Ukraine, we have been meeting online every Thursday evening to pray together for peace; we are from different cultures and nations in Eastern and Western Europe. And for the past few months, representatives from the Holy Land have also joined in.
There are only a hundred of us, but it is always a sacred moment that makes us feel like one family praying and asking God for peace together. For us here in Ukraine it is a great gift to pray together because it gives us the strength to go on, making us feel the closeness of so many people. And this gives us hope for the future.
Ljubljana: every day for three years
Marjana and Pavel Snoj had this to say: That 22 February 2022 we were surprised and distressed with Russia’s aggression in Ukraine: – we just didn’t expect it! We in Slovenia know what a war is; we experienced it even after the break-up of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s and we still bear the wounds. That is why we asked ourselves what we could do against this war, which is always a source of pain, destruction and death. One possibility was immediately obvious to us: prayer! Because we are certain that prayer can obtain everything from God.
We therefore decided to start praying online. We are approx. 60 people from various Movements and Communities, praying together every day for 30′ since February 2022, and we have never stopped doing so, for any reason. At the end of the prayer, we still remain briefly connected for about 5 – 10 minutes to exchange the latest news about the war, the sorrows and joys we experience. Indeed, a true family spirit is created between us, because we live for each other. We believe in peace and that it will soon be possible.
Esslingen: perception, closeness, prayer
Judith Kaiser writes: ‘Be joyful in hope, strong in tribulation, persevering in prayer’ – thus the appeal from Romans 12:12. Perhaps it is this call that brings us together every Tuesday evening as Christians from different Movements and Communities – German-speaking area – for the ecumenical prayer for peace in Ukraine on Zoom.
In our prayer for a just peace, we place our trust in the Lord’s help in all the needs we are aware of. We, about 10-20 people, have been constantly praying since November 2023. Thanks to the participation of Miroslav from Uzhhorod and sometimes Viktor from Lviv, Ukraine is always present in the prayer on Zoom. Their perceptions, stories, greetings and requests help us to pray in a concrete way and to recognise God’s action. Our connection in prayer often makes us feel a deep closeness that refreshes the heart. After a short lead-in, we pray aloud or silently, interceding, blessing, professing the Word of God… each in our own way. In the end, we also turn our prayer specifically to the situation in Israel. Once a month, Hans-Joachim Scholz leads us in prayer of reconciliation. We often experience that we ourselves are blessed and strengthened in faith through this appointment. And God always acts again – let us give thanks to Him for this!’
Bringing the beating heart of current affairs to God
We like to conclude with a thought by Pope Francis (1): ‘Perhaps force of habit or a certain daily ritual has led us to think that prayer does not change individuals or history. Yet to pray is to change reality. Prayer is an active mission, a constant intercession. It is not distant from the world, but changes the world. To pray is to bring the beating heart of current affairs into God’s presence, so that his gaze will shine out upon history. (…) If prayer is living … continually prompts us to allow ourselves to be troubled by the plea of all those who suffer in our world.’
Those interested in participating in one of these moments of prayer can contact us via the website.
The international secretariat of Together for Europe
(1) Homily in the Gesù Church in Rome, 12 March 2022
Deeply rooted in his faith, Bishop Christian Krause was a pioneer and staunch supporter of Christian unity. After years of consultation with the Catholic Church, he was able to sign – for the Lutheran World Federation – the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification on 31 October 1999. On that historic day he met Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement. ‘She and Card Miloslav Vlk suddenly found themselves in front of me and a very special relationship began. I got to know the charism of unity, Jesus in the midst…,’ he recounted in a telephone conversation a few days before his death.
In 2004, together with 55 bishops from various Churches, he took part in the first big event organised by the ecumenical network Together for Europe in Stuttgart. The previous evening – towards the end of the Collaborators’ Congress – he took the stage with the curial Cardinal Walter Kasper and looking at the hall, crowded with 2,000 people, said: ’I was overwhelmed with emotion. My heart was filled with gratitude as I looked into the hall and knew: these people are all my sisters and brothers!’ (cf. Neue Stadt, 6/2004)
From then on, Bishop Christian accompanied the journey of our network with great fidelity. For him it was a ‘new ecumenical restart’ on the path to Christian unity. On the occasion of Cardinal Kasper’s 85th birthday, he said in a speech at the German Embassy to the Holy See in Rome: ‘In the meantime, the path from conflict to communion has continued on many levels. One of these levels is the spiritual Movements and Communities which, with reference to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, are increasingly coming together across national and confessional boundaries to develop new ecumenical community actions, such as, for example, Together for Europe.’ (cf. Rammler, Christian Krause: Weite Wagen, p. 302).
His encouraging speeches, which he repeatedly addressed to the Friends of the network, remain unforgettable. They were innovative, often prophetic. At the recent meeting in Graz-Seggauberg, his audio message was one of the highlights for many of the 200 participants. Among other things, he said: ‘When the meeting takes place in Graz, there will be an even stronger desire for unity among the younger generations than before. This desire is not only expressed within the Church, but in general. We are disintegrating, Europe is disintegrating in a shocking way. But so are the new partnerships and groupings of a political and economic nature and so on, the new wars going on… That is why it is once again extremely important for Christians to realise that unity is their mandate. It is their gift. So: the charisma of unity, Jesus in the midst. This is enough, these are the pillars. Therefore, Christians, forward please. This is Graz, this is my hope!
One young participant commented: ‘I’m taking over this baton!’ And like her, many others took up the legacy of Bishop Christian Krause.
We are aware that in his passing away, we lost a man who experienced in his life the boundless love of God. His message of Christian unity as a response to the needs of our time remains alive among us. It is painful to lose such a beloved and wise friend, but we are grateful for such a blessed life he shared with so many.
Dear brother Bishop Christian, we treasure in our hearts your last appeal: ‘Go forward, you are on the right path!’ We remain united with you in believing that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
