Chicagoland

Why do Christians need a unity week?

By Catholic New World
Sunday, January 15, 2012

Christians in the Chicago area will once again celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25. Dominican Sister Joan McGuire, director of the archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, answered some questions by email explaining this tradition and what it means to Catholics.

Catholic New World: How did this week get started?

Sister Joan McGuire: In England, Paul Watson and Laurann White co-founded Anglican religious communities with the purpose to reunite the Catholic and Anglican churches. In New York, the two communities became the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement (at-one-ment). In 1909, both societies came into communion with the Catholic Church. In 1908, Father Watson initiated the Octave for Christian Unity and set the observance between the symbolic feasts of St. Peter (Jan. 18) and St. Paul (Jan. 25). Starting in 1908, the octave has been observed by some Christians and continues to be observed worldwide as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

CNW: As Christians, we all believe in Jesus and the Trinity. Why do we have to promote unity? Aren’t we already united in belief?

McGuire: The call to unity is a mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ who prayed “that they may all be one … so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:21). The Catholic Church reinforces that mandate. The Decree on Ecumenism states, “such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the sacred cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.” Also, these divisions can make a mockery of the Gospel among skeptics of religion.

Christians are united in our one baptism in Christ Jesus. Our churches, too, are united in a “real but imperfect or incomplete communion.” Unfortunately, our communion is not complete. Issues that divide prevent full visible communion with each other. For this reason, ecumenical spirituality, prayer for full visible unity needs to be promoted.

CNW: How has the archdiocese been involved in this week over the years? Who else is involved?

McGuire: Archdiocesan schools in the 1950s and early 1960s promoted the Octave of Christian Unity. After the Second Vatican Council many ministerial associates held WPCU services and some continue to do so.

For Jan. 18-25, the focus is on services held in local areas. Ecumenical Metro Chicago, composed of 17 Catholic, Episcopal, Orthodox and Protestant churches, is also promoting WPCU ecumenical services at the same time.

Catholic churches preparing or participating in WPCU ecumenical services include: St. Dismas, Waukegan; St. Joseph, Libertyville; St. Isaac Jogues, Niles; St. Martha, Morton Grove; St. Mary, Riverside; St. Christopher, Midlothian. In Chicago: St. Gertrude, Holy Name Cathedral, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Ferdinand and St. Ailbe.

For information, visit www.archchicago.org/departments/ecumenical. Other Catholics involved in the WPCU include schools, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, the Focolare Movement and religious communities of men and women.

CNW: It sounds like this week is mostly for church leaders. What is the impact on the “everyday” Catholic?

McGuire: The impact of the WPCU depends on participation in the WPCU. One everyday Catholic asked his pastor if anything was planned for the WPCU. Consequently, a service is planned.

A sister holds an annual WPCU service prepared by the members of her confirmation class. The students invite their friends from other churches to join them. Many Catholics are inspired and impressed to see leaders from a variety of churches standing together in prayer for Christian unity.

Perhaps, it is the annual service of church leaders that gives the impression that WPCU is mostly for church leaders. The leaders do provide leadership and model what everyday Christians can do — pray together for Christian unity and build relations with each other.

CNW: Has this week improved relations between Christians in the Chicago area?

McGuire: The WPCU contributes to improved relations among Christian unity in Chicago by deepening relationships with other Christians, the first goal of ecumenism. Planning and participating in a WPCU ecumenical service provides the opportunity to learn to know and love each other and each other’s churches.

For 2012, the Annual WPCU prayer service, normally celebrated in January, has been postponed to Trinity Sunday, June 3. The theme chosen by the churches is “We will be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (cf.1 Cor 15:51).”

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