''The parish, as an ecclesial unity gathered around the Eucharist, should be and proclaim itself to be the place of authentic ecumenical witness. Thus a great task for the parish is to educate its members in the ecumenical spirit. This calls for ... a pastoral program which involves someone charged with promoting and planning ecumenical activity, working in close harmony with the parish priest; this will help in the various forms of collaboration with the corresponding parishes of other Christians.'' Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (March 25, 1993) (67)

A Parish Ecumenical Representative (PER) is a parishioner designated by the pastor who has a special role in communicating and coordinating local ecumenical and interfaith activity.

The Functions of the PER:

- to assist and support the pastor in making the parish "the place of authentic ecumenical witness"

- to foster a deeper ecumenical and interreligious awareness among parishioners

- to encourage and facilitate parish participation in local ecumenical and interreligious activities

- to represent the parish, when appropriate according to local custom, on neighborhood ecumenical and interfaith organizations or ministeria

- to serve as a liaison between the parish, the Vicariate Coordinators and the Archdiocesan Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

Relationship of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
to the Parish Ecumenical Representative

Each of the six vicariates has a clergy coordinator and a lay coordinator who are available to the PERs. They meet with them as a group about twice a year.

The Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs conducts an annual Archdiocesan PER workshop.

A quarterly newsletter and other mailings are sent to each PER as an additional means of keeping them updated on local, national and worldwide ecumenical and interfaith developments.

Upon request, our Office also supplies the PER with printed and audiovisual materials for use in the parish and ministerium.