Archdiocese of Chicago Observes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18 - 25, 2024
Chicago, (Jan. 17, 2024) – The Archdiocese of Chicago will join other Christian churches in praying for unity during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, beginning on Thursday, Jan. 18. Started in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated annually around the world. Those eight days form an “octave” from the traditional feast day of the Confession of St. Peter to the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
“Praying for Christian unity is an important part of a synodal vision of the Church, which calls all Christians to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading us in our walking together as disciples,” said Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “Becoming a synodal Church builds upon the priorities of the Second Vatican Council and is central to goals of Renew My Church.”
The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2024, “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27), was selected by the Pontifical Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the World Council of Churches, and the Christian Churches in Burkina Faso, coordinated by the community of Chemin Neuf, a French Catholic and ecumenical community of vowed and lay people.
The theme reflects the connection between love of God and love of neighbor with a particular concern for challenging the boundaries of who is considered "neighbor." In this pericope, Jesus is questioned as to the path to eternal life. His answer is not to only observe the commandments, but to also imitate the love of God in the giving of self for another. It is a call for charity, mercy, justice, and unity.
To begin the new year, Pope Francis released a video to accompany his prayer intention for the month of January urging Christians to unite their prayers to his “for the gift of diversity in the Church,” since diversity is an opportunity to “rejoice.” He added that, in diversity, “the Christian community might grow as one body, the Body of Christ.”
The video ends with the image of an enormous cross formed by thousands of Christians of various backgrounds, symbolically responding to the Holy Father’s appeal. The Cross represents the common thread among Christians describing it as a symbol of unity and diversity. “To move forward on the journey of faith, we also need ecumenical dialogue with our brothers and sisters of other confessions and Christian communities,” he said. “This is not something confusing or disturbing, but is a gift God gives to the Christian community so it might grow as one body, the Body of Christ.”
The following are local ecumenical prayer services commemorating the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
- St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Church, 2132 E. 72nd St., Chicago
Sunday, Jan. 21 at 10:30 a.m.
- St. Nicolai United Church of Christ, 3000 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago (in English and Spanish)
Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.
- Christ Centered Church Ministries, 9701 49th Ave., Oak Lawn
For more information, please visit https://eia.archchicago.org/ or call 312.534.5325.
