The 2021 International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on January 18 and ends on the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul, January 25. Because of the pandemic, our observance will involve social media. Please share this information with your parishes, churches and schools. Further information may be obtained from Fr. Paul Burke, chairman of the archbishop’s Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations: (404) 920-7514 or pburke@archatl.com.
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International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
“Abide in my love… you shall bear much fruit.” (John 15:1-17) is the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25). Begun in 1908, these days have been set aside each year so that Christians the world over may share the prayer of Jesus: “that all may be one… that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Because of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Week of Prayer will be observed in the Archdiocese of Atlanta using social media. Beginning on January 18, the Archdiocese of Atlanta will launch a series of videos. The ecumenical reflections based on the theme “Abide in my Love” will be given by Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., and other religious leaders. The videos will be posted on our vimeo.com/archatl page, as well as on: https://vimeo.com/channels/atlantaecumenical.
Archbishop Hartmayer will be hosting a Vespers Service on the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul, Monday, January 25, at 5:30 p.m. in St. Dominic Chapel in our Chancery in Smyrna. The service will be livestreamed at https://livestream.com/archatl/ecumenical.
Further information on the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity can be found on the Graymoor Franciscans website: www.geii.org.
Sample Prayers for the People / General Intercessions
For all Christian churches and faith communities, that they may continue to show one another extraordinary kindness in guiding them towards reconciliation and unity in Christ…
For all Christian churches and faith communities, that they may be faithful witnesses to the Gospel call to reconciliation…
For church leaders everywhere during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, that they may work together and promote unity among Christians…
For the church, that God would inspire God’s people to continue the quest for Christian unity and that our hearts be filled with the gift of Jesus’ love for all…
For the leadership of the church throughout the world during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, that they may witness to Christ’s prayer “That All May Be One…”
For an end to the divisions among Christians, that they work together in bringing about healing and promote reconciliation as signs of God’s reign…
For the various ecumenical dialogues between our church and other denominations, that they bear witness to the quest for Christian unity in Jesus’ name…
For those who participate in the works of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, that they always treat one another with extraordinary kindness seeking the unity that is found in Christ and a true openness to the giftedness found in each other…