Archdiocese of Chicago Observes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18–25, 2021
Chicago, IL (Jan. 15, 2021) – The Archdiocese of Chicago will join other Christian churches in praying for unity during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, beginning on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. Started in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated annually around the world between Jan. 18 and Jan. 25. Those eight days form an “octave” from the Confession of St. Peter to the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. This year’s theme is from the Gospel of St. John, “Abide in my love… you shall bear much fruit.”
“We live in a time of great suffering and hardship, when we have experienced the pain of being physically distant from one another during moments of joy and suffering,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminds us that divisions within the Body of Christ similarly put distance among Christians and hamper our ability to bring Christ’s love to the world. It is my hope that this annual week of prayer can remind us of the importance of unity, so we might bear great fruit in a world desperately in need of peace and healing.”
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches select ecumenical leaders from various regions to prepare the theme and text for the Week of Prayer. This year’s theme was prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp, in Switzerland, and expresses its vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and the human family.
A radio discussion of the 2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with Dr. Daniel Olsen, director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Rev. Courtney Reid, director of operations of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and the Nicholas Center of St. James Commons, can be found at https://radiotv.archchicago.org/radio/catholic-chicago
For more information, please visit https://eia.archchicago.org/ecumenical-relations/what-are-ecumenical-relations/WPCU or call 312.534.5325.
