January 21, 2009

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity observed Jan. 18-25

NEW YORK—The Church Unity Octave, a forerunner of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, was developed by Father Paul Wattson, S.A., at Graymoor in Garrison, N.Y., and was first observed at Graymoor from Jan. 18-25, 1908. Today, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” (Jn 17:21). In 1966, the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and the Vatican Secretariat (now Council) for Promoting Christian Unity began collaborating as a common international text for worldwide usage. Since 1968 these international texts, which are based on themes proposed by ecumenical groups around the world, have been developed, adapted and published for use in the United States by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute. Theme for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “That they may become one in your hand” (Ez 37:17). For this year’s prayer or for more information, visit geii.org.