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When I was appointed Bishop of Ballarat twelve years ago, I was required to choose a motto for my Crest to be used forofficial documentation. By an act of God’s providence I decided upon “That we may be one”. I saw it as a response to theprayer of Jesus at the Last Supper, when he prayed that his disciples might “be one as you Father are in me and I am inyou. May they be one in us; so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17: 21).A few years previously in May 1995, Pope John Paul II had published an Encyclical Letter “On Commitment to Ecumenism”which he introduced with the same theme: “That they may be one”. One of my first duties was to sign a covenant forgreater co-operation between the Anglican and the Catholic Dioceses of Ballarat.My close association with the late Archbishop Frank Little over many years, prompted me to reflect on the importance ofunity among all Christians if we are to give true witness to Jesus Christ. Archbishop Little was renowned for hiscommitment to the cause of Christian Unity.Our whole nation felt relieved and involved when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said “Sorry” to our indigenous brothers andsisters, in Federal Parliament in February 2008. It was an important step along the road to true reconciliation, with thosewho have suffered so much over the past two hundred years.On several occasions I have expressed my sincere regret and apology for the suffering and trauma caused by the actionsof some of our priests. I know that this will be for the survivors but one step upon the road towards healing, and perhapsone day being reconciled with the Church.Because we are human and capable of sin, reconciliation is at the heart of life’s business. We recall the many occasionswhen Jesus dealt with the issue of forgiveness and of the need to be reconciled with our sisters and brothers before we canapproach God (cf. Matthew 18: 21 -22; Luke 17:33-34). The final prayer of Jesus on the Cross was for the forgiveness ofhis executioners (cf. Luke 23:34).The parable of the Prodigal Son is above all the story of the inexpressible love of a Father – God – who offers to his sonwhen he comes back to him, the gift of full reconciliation. The elder son portrays the selfishness that divides the brothers.Sadly it is the story of the human family.Let us keep before our eyes the image of the Prodigal Son, whose anxiety for conversion represents those who are awareof the existence in their inmost hearts, of a longing for reconciliation at all levels and without reserve.+ Peter J ConnorsBISHOP OF BALLARAT“We forgive freely or we do not really forgive at all."Lewis B. Smedes - Forgive & Forget:Healing the Hurts We Don't Deserve