Archdiocese of Chicago Celebrates the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity January 18-25
Chicago, IL (January 16, 2019) – 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, January 18, 2019. Started in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world each year between January 18 and January 25. Those eight days formed an “octave” from the Confession of St. Peter and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (January 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, January 19 at 6 p.m.
Heritage Presbyterian Church
965 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream
Sunday, January 20 at 10:30 a.m.
St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
3000 N. Kedzie, Chicago
Sunday, January 20 at 3 p.m.
St. Martha of Bethany Parish/Shrine of All Saints
8523 Georgiana Ave., Morton Grove
Tuesday, January 22 at 7 p.m.
Taize Prayer Service
Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA)
Sacred Heart School Chapel
6250 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago
(Parking at Granville and Kenmore)
Thursday, January 24 at 7 p.m.
Evanston Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)
1445 Hinman Ave. at Grove, Evanston
Saturday, January 26 at 7 p.m.
St. Dorothy Church
450 E. 78th Street, Chicago
For more information, please visit https://eia.archchicago.org/news-and-events/events/upcoming-events or call 312.534.5325.
