Archdiocese of Chicago celebrates Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25
The Archdiocese of Chicago will join other Christian churches in praying for unity during the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, beginning on Friday, Jan. 18. Started in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world each year between Jan. 18-25. Those eight days formed an "octave" from the Confession of St. Peter and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25).
"During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, I urge Catholics to pray in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters, especially for those suffering from persecution and injustice throughout the world," said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. "It is through our united prayers and common action as Christians that we can best address the root causes of injustice and heal the divisions that plague our communities, nation and our world."
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches annually select ecumenical leaders from various geographical regions to prepare the theme and text for the Week of Prayer. This year's theme, "Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue" from Deuteronomy 16:18-20 was chosen by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and the Indonesian Catholic Bishops' Conference for its powerful message of promoting truth, equality and unity.
"This annual observance is a distinctive time when Catholics come together with other Christians to recall our shared mission to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ," said Very Rev. Thomas A. Baima, vicar for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of Chicago. "In so doing, we are reminded that our disunity remains an obstacle to that Christian mission, and thus recommit ourselves to common prayer and action to heal past divisions to become better witnesses to Christ in the world."
The following are local ecumenical prayer services commemorating the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
• Saturday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 965 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream
• Sunday, Jan. 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ, 3000 N. Kedzie, Chicago
• Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Martha of Bethany Parish/Shrine of All Saints, 8523 Georgiana Ave., Morton Grove
• Tuesday, Jan. 22 Taize Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Edgewater Community Religious Association, Sacred Heart School Chapel, 6250 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago; parking at Granville and Kenmore
• Thursday, Jan. 24 Evanston Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 1445 Hinman Ave. at Grove, Evanston
• Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at St. Dorothy Church, 450 E. 78th St., Chicago
For more information, visit eia.archchicago.org or call (312) 534-5325.
About the Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 336 parishes in Cook and Lake Counties, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 15,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the region's largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country's largest seminaries. The Archdiocese's 209 elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems and it has garnered more U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards than any system of any type.