More than 200 people from several Christian churches in the Lower Blue Mountains have gathered for a Lenten day of fasting and prayer for Christian unity, with the aim of raising money for charity.
Parishioners from five parishes representing the Catholic, Uniting and Baptist churches in Glenbrook and Blaxland met for the ecumenical Soup Fasting Sunday on 18 February at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, in Glenbrook.
More than 200 people attended the ecumenical event on February 18 to raising money for charity. Image: Supplied
The event was started by Fr Joseph Lam, the Parish Priest at St Finbar’s Catholic Church Glenbrook, in 2021 as a way to improve friendship and dialogue between the region’s churches. This year’s event attracted more people than ever and raised almost $5000 for the Blue Mountains Refugees Support Group.
“It has become a well-known event during Lent,” said Fr Lam. “More churches are joining us.”
Fr Lam said that between 200 and 300 people attended the day to pray, listen to refugee speakers and raise money, and to drink soup that was brought by members of each congregation.
Attendees came from St Finbar’s Catholic Church Glenbrook, St Andrew’s Uniting Church Glenbrook, Blaxland Uniting Church, Warrimoo Uniting Church and Glenbrook Baptist Church.
For the first time, an inter-church group was set up to organise the event this year, Fr Lam said, and the relationship with this year’s charity did not end with raising money on the day.
“We will have a relationship with the charity, and work together on projects throughout the year,” he said.
