WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2024
“The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world on January 18-25, which are also dates recommended by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. However, there has also been a long-standing practice by a number of communities to celebrate the Week of Prayer on optional dates, in order to include two Sundays (Ordo Liturgical Calendar 2023-2024, p. 47).”
My own observance of this week has varied. We once had a pastor who worked ecumenically with other Christian pastors. They opened their doors so visitors could join them during the week for worship. It was a blessing to be welcomed into other Church spaces and communities.
Sometimes there is a prayer included in the universal prayer to encourage us to be welcoming of our Christian brothers and sisters. During Taizé prayer evenings, our Christian friends are welcomed to pray with us in the style of Taizé. I feel a kinship and a rightness with this type of inclusive prayer.
Last year, I was a speaker for the World Day of Prayer. In attendance there were women from other denominations. My talk focused on how women, especially grandmothers, are often the sharers of faith with children. When I ask my students “Who is the holiest person you know?” they will often say “My Nonna, my Memere, my grandma.”
We have a long way to go before we are united. However, we are further down the road in that direction from when I was a child and we were not allowed to enter other denominational buildings.
“The importance of unity among Christians and the responsibility of the people of each parish to work for this unity should be emphasized throughout the week. All members of the parish should seek to have a deeper understanding of ecumenism (Ordo Liturgical Calendar 2023-2024, p. 47).”
Let us pray:
Lord, I do not believe you meant for your community to be fractured.
Inspire us to work toward unity.
May we work in concrete ways to be the community of your great love.
We all profess you as our Lord and God,
guide the effort of theologians and religious leaders
to break down the barriers that have separated us.
May your Word encourage us to be one in You.
Amen.
Pat Carter, CSJ is a disciple, a teacher and an advocate for the poor. She has been a Sister of St. Joseph for more than half of her life and loves to use words to inspire faith and laughter. She is a cantor at her parish of St. Jerome’s in Sault Ste. Marie.
