Christ Our Light Catholic Church - Loudonville, NY

From Deacon Dick

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 18 through 25

Theme: "They showed us unusual kindness" (cf. Acts 28:2)

As we begin our Season of Ordinary Time, we pause to reflect not only on the fundamental meaning of this Season, but also on why one day binds together the entire Christian Church.  I’m taking the liberty of drawing insight from the Saint Andrew Bible:

While the great liturgical seasons of Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter are more expansive celebrations of the one Paschal mystery, in Ordinary Time the celebration of Sunday is the identifying mark of the Christian community.  For it is on Sunday that the Christian community comes together, remembering  that on this first day of the week the Lord of life was raised up and creation at last came to completion. Sunday as a day of play and worship is a sacrament of redeemed time.  How we live Sunday proclaims to the world what we believe about redeemed time now and forever.  The gathering of the Christian Church every Sunday is the fabric of Christian living.

And so we join with our sisters and brothers from the various Christian traditions throughout the world in offering praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord.  Please join me in praying from the Preface of the Mass for the Unity of Christians:

For through Him you brought us to the knowledge of your truth, so that by the bond of one faith and one Baptism we might become His Body.

Through Him you poured out your Holy Spirit among all the nations, so that in a wondrous manner He might prompt and engender unity in the diversity of your gifts, dwelling within your adopted children, and filling and ruling the whole Church. 

Ut Unum Sint (That they all may be one):  St. Pope John Paul II

God, who are unity in three holy persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit --You have called us to live in peace with all people. You have also called us to work toward unity in purpose to spread the Gospel to all nations. Graciously give us the courage and strength to work toward unity, and act toward each other as brothers and sisters.  We ask this in the unity of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Further information can be found at Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute (GEII)