A teenage encounter with Christ at a Christian retreat set Philip Ryall on a path that would eventually lead to one of Sydney’s biggest ecumenical events, set to take place this month. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Thousands of Christians from across denominations are expected to gather at the Sydney Opera House on June 14 for OneSydney: Together in Christ, a major worship event bringing together Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational Christians.
But for Mr Ryall, its event director, the vision for it began long before the Opera House stage.
As a teenager, he said he became unsettled by the divisions between Christians despite their shared belief in Christ.
“I recognised there might be a bit of a scandal going on here with division,” Mr Ryall said.
“And what can we do about it? How can we begin to become bridge builders between the body of Christ, so that unity wasn’t just a duty, but it became a beauty – something to behold, something that we all want.”
That idea of unity as something attractive and life-giving now sits at the centre of OneSydney.
Presented by the Dear Unity Movement and the Christian Alliance Council, the concert will feature Christian artists and speakers including Matt Maher, Dami Im, Bella Taylor Smith and Fr Rob Galea, alongside choirs and representatives from dozens of churches, ministries and Christian organisations.
“It’s about Christians coming together publicly and saying we belong to Jesus,” he said.
“We might come from different traditions, but we share Christ.”
The event comes amid growing ecumenical collaboration across Sydney through prayer gatherings, worship nights and evangelisation initiatives.
While Mr Ryall acknowledged theological differences remain between denominations, he said unity doesn’t mean pretending those differences do not exist.
The concert will take place almost exactly six months after the Bondi Junction massacre that shook Sydney in December 2025.
Mr Ryall said the timing adds another layer of meaning to the gathering, with organisers hoping the event becomes a visible sign of hope, prayer and solidarity for the city.
Tickets at www.onesydney.org or www.sydneyoperahouse.com.
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OneSydney concert aims to build bridges across Christian denominations (By Marilyn Rodrigues, The Catholic Weekly)
