YOUNGSTOWN — Members of the Catholic and Lutheran communities came together in unity on Sunday, noting while differences exist, the two faiths affirm their covenant with one another — showing all can be one.

More than 50 Catholics and Lutherans gathered at St. Columba Cathedral for the ecumenical prayer event for the rededication of the covenant between the two religious faiths that was entered into in 2000.

The recommitment to the covenant between the two faiths was to mark the Oct. 29, 2000, signing between former Youngstown Bishop Thomas Tobin and former Lutheran Bishop Marcus Miller, confessing the faith shared by Lutherans and Catholics and dedicating them to prayer, study and action for Christian unity.

The Lutheran-Catholic Covenant celebration will be televised 11:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. today on the Ecumenical Television Channel.

Bishop Laura Barbins of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Northeastern Ohio Synod and Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar gathered for the special occasion. Barbins said this was one of her first events since becoming a bishop.

“We are ethnically, religiously, socially and politically diverse people. Too often we focus on our differences when God created so many different things. We all have different thoughts, different opinions, different experiences and different beliefs. We were created in God’s image, but there is diversity,” Barbins said.

She said Jesus prays for unity among all people.

“We celebrate that unity. Differences are part of God’s design. Tonight, Bishop Bonnar and I affirm again the importance of that covenant we have together,” she said

In unison, Barbins and Bonnar confirmed the rededicaton of the covenant.

Since 2000, the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant has had three priorities: prayer, study and action.

Bonnar said the action has taken many forms this year with the many concerns in the world. One concern that has animated the Lutheran-Catholic relationship this year is the influx of Afghan refugees, he said.

Donations collected at the event were given to the Diocese of Cleveland’s Catholic Charities Office of Migration and Refugee Services to assist Afghan refugees and their families who are being evacuated from their country under the Special Immigrant Visa program.

Bonnar said Barbins presented “an inspiring message” that was uplifting.