For students from the World Council of Churches's (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, attending a Sunday mass at which Pope Francis presided in the Basilica of St Peter, Vatican during the week of Christian unity forged a special memory about bringing churches together.
The world’s largest prayer gathering—the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity—is set to open with an array of inspiring resources, from liturgical materials to colorful social media cards.
An ecumenical team from Burkina Faso facilitated by the local Chemin Neuf Community has been the convener for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 drafting group. The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Vatican have now published the material in several languages.
As churches in the southern hemisphere closed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 28 May, they brought final reflections to this year’s theme of “Do good; seek justice (Isaiah 1:17).”
Churches in the southern hemisphere will observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 21-28 May, the week between Ascension and Pentecost. This year’s theme is “Do good; seek justice (Isaiah 1:17).”
Each year, ecumenical partners in a different region are asked to prepare the materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year, Christians from Minnesota developed the resources with input from an international group representing the Roman Catholic Church’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Commission. The resources include an ecumenical opening prayer service, biblical reflections and prayers for eight days, and other elements of worship.
World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended sincere birthday congratulations to Cardinal Walter Kasper, expressing gratitude for the cardinal’s tireless service for Christian unity, particularly for his leadership role in the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended sincere birthday congratulations to Cardinal Walter Kasper, president emeritus of the the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
At a special event at the University of Fribourg honoring his work, former acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, delivered a lecture exploring the question: “What future for the ecumenical movement?”
As Christians in Africa joined the celebrations to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a Roman Catholic priest who is involved in ecumenism, stressed the unity of the churches as central to building a concrete response to poor people’s need for justice in the continent.
Aa the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity opened on 18 January, the World Council of Churches staff and partners gathered in a spirit of unity to “Do good; seek justice,” the theme of this year’s special week.
Days before the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins, many across the world are getting ready by accessing the resources prepared by the Minnesota Council of Churches, based in the USA.
Materiale della Settimana di preghiera per l’unità dei cristiani preparato dalla Commissione internazionale nominata congiuntamente dal Pontificio Consiglio per la promozione dell’unità dei cristiani (Chiesa cattolica) e dalla Commissione Fede e costituzione (Consiglio ecumenico delle chiese).
Materiale della Settimana di preghiera per l’unità dei cristiani preparato dalla Commissione internazionale nominata congiuntamente dal Pontificio Consiglio per la promozione dell’unità dei cristiani (Chiesa cattolica) e dalla Commissione Fede e costituzione (Consiglio ecumenico delle chiese).
At a World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly press conference held 7 September, Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox voices joined a WCC Faith and Order member to explore the meaning of Christian unity.
With over 3,500 participants from all over the world, opportunities for “encounter” are rich and continuous at the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) taking place in Karlsruhe, Germany. Intentional gatherings – from small “home” groups to regional meetings also help to connect participants and bring different perspectives to the concerns and hopes being raised under the Assembly theme, “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity”.