In 1963 when I was at Sydney University I travelled daily on the Hunters Hill ferry, on which I first met a Roman Catholic, Michelle. She invited me to a home meeting where a priest was introducing the 'Ecumenical Council' meeting in Rome. I was impressed that the priest was happy to respond to questions, and keen for these young adults to explore their faith. It was my introduction to Vatican II, which was to play a significant part in my life.
My only previous contact with Catholics was avoiding the local Catholic school when walking home, for fear of having stones thrown at me, in my state primary school uniform — sadly, some state schoolers did likewise to Catholic students. I remember it as a parable of pre-Vatican II Catholic-Protestant relationships in Australia.
By 1966 Australian Anglicans were exploring liturgical revision. I have vivid memories of four stimulating lectures given by (later Archbishop) Donald Robinson on this to the Sydney University Anglican Society.
Yet it was years before I realised the debt owed to the scholars behind Vatican II: the Anglican world of Cranmer, Restoration, Wesley, the Anglo-catholic revival and fights over ritualism dominated the revision agenda. I studied Latin at uni — which later proved to be a great investment — but Roman Catholicism was a parallel universe.
The late 1960s saw me in Canberra, living in a public servant's hostel. A good number of Catholic residents went to Mass early on Sundays so as to have the day free. My pattern was to attend 8am Holy Communion at St John's, return for breakfast, then head back to help with Sunday School.
I will never forget coming back to one incredibly noisy Sunday morning breakfast at which most Mass attendees were very angry — 'I never realised it was about God' sums up the general viewpoint. This was the first time these young blokes had experienced the Mass in English. A fortnight later only three were going — Legion of Mary members, whom I got to know as fellow believers.
Having a keen interest in liturgical revision, as a theological student I soon found Dom Gregory Dix, and then the documents of Vatican II, a revelation. I was especially impressed with the 'application' work of