Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity commences today, 18th January and is observed until 25th January. Service to mark beginning of event takes place in Dublin this evening.
Reconciliation and the Cross: A fragment of the Berlin Wall used as a symbol to mark Christian unity 500 years after the Lutheran Reformation. Source: www.catholicnews.ie
2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. In the year 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk, pinned his 95 Theses to the door of his Catholic church.
The local theme - in the UK and Ireland - of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is ‘crossing barriers’, which aims to promote reconciliation through the breaking down of walls and barriers. It is based on the international theme ‘Reconciliation: The Love of Christ Compels Us’.
During his pastoral visit to Sweden last October, Pope Francis visited the Lutheran cathedral of Lund and made a gesture of reconciliation to Lutherans:
"We too must look with love and honesty at our past, recognizing error and seeking forgiveness, for God alone is our judge."
Five hundred years later, the need for unity is greater than ever according to Bob Fyffe, General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI):
"This is a time of great change and uncertainty around the world as we confront difficulties such as climate change, migration of people across the planet and conflict spreading in many places. In the European context, we see many of these issues finding expressions on our streets and these are indeed a cause for prayers for unity.
"We need to be resolute in standing together to witness to a Christ centred Church, in standing with those on the margins who have no voice and no power. Prayers for unity need to become daily prayers, so that we deepen Christ’s life in each one of us."
A service to mark the opening of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place this evening, Janaury 18th, in Christchurch, Church of Ireland, Taney Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14 at 8pm. The leaders of many Christian demoninations will be in attendance. The preacher will be Fr. Declan Marmion SM, Professor of Systematic Theology in Maynooth.
'...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.'
John 17:21
Click here for more on the Week for Prayer for Chrisitian Unity.
Click here to reflect on Pope Francis' Christian unity prayer intention.
