Chicago, IL (January 17, 2014) – Archdiocesan parishes, working in cooperation with the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, will join with other Christian denominations in ecumenical celebrations during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity beginning Saturday, January 18. In addition to prayer at individual churches, there will be ecumenical services throughout Chicago and the metropolitan area. All are invited to attend these services and events.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity services and events include:
Sunday, January 19 – 5 p.m.
St. Raymond de Penafort Church & St. Mark Lutheran Church will jointly host an evening discussion “What I Always Wanted to Know About Your Tradition”. The program will be held at St. Raymond de Penafort Church, 301 S. I-Oka Ave., Mount Prospect.
uesday, January 21 – 9:15 a.m.
Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and Church Women United of Greater Chicago will host their annual Christian Unity Prayer Breakfast at Elmcrest Banquets, 7370 W. Grand Ave., Elmwood Park.
Wednesday, January 22 – 7 p.m. and Thursday, January 23 – 7 p.m.
Ecumenism Metro Chicago and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago are hosting at two venues: “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”, discussing the use of bread in worship. The first will be at SS. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, 1401 Wagner Rd., Glenview, on Wednesday, January 22. The second will be St. Andrew Orthodox Church, 5649 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, on Thursday, January 23.
Friday, January 24 – 7 p.m.
St. Mary Parish, 126 Herrick Road, Riverside, will host a “Celebration of Unity” with a Taize Prayer Service led by Rev. Dr. Martin Marty.
Friday, January 24 – 7:30 p.m.
St. Ferdinand Parish, 5900 W. Barry Ave., Chicago, will hold a bilingual (English/Polish) Ecumenical Prayer Service following the 7:00 p.m. Mass. St. Ferdinand’s confirmation students will lead prayers and music for this 2014 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Celebration.
Saturday, January 25 – 7:00 p.m.
The Focolare Movement will host its annual Prayer Service for Christian Unity at KAM Isaiah Israel, 1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago.
Sunday, January 26 – 11 a.m.
Second Presbyterian Church, 1936 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, will host an Ecumenical Worship Service with Fr. Mike Kallock, Pastor of Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chicago, as the guest preacher.
Begun in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated each year in cities and towns across the country and around the world.
The Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Archdiocese of Chicago works to foster the ecumenical goal of the visible unity of Christians, to deepen interfaith relations with Jews and Muslims, and to nurture understanding among all religious groups through dialogue, formation, prayer, and collaboration in civic affairs. For more information about the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, visit their website at www.archchicago.org/departments/ecumenical, or contact Sr. Mary Ellen Coombe, nds, Associate Director, 312-534-5324, [email protected].