Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Tuesday, January 18th marks the beginning of the week of prayer for Christian Unity, ending next week, on January 25th, with the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. I recently read a couple of articles that I thought were interesting.

Did you know that the original idea for a week of prayer for Christian unity was begun in 1908 by an American Episcopalian priest, Paul Wattson. His idea was the return of the seperated churches to Rome; a year later he joined the Catholic church.

In the 30's, it took on a new focus with a French Catholic priest named Paul Couturier. He proposed that the prayer be for "unity that Christ wills, as he wills, and when he wills" (available from; www.weekofprayer2008.org/about-history.html).

In the diocese, St. Alban's Cathedral is hosting a Ecumenical prayer service on January 23rd at 7pm.

Let us come together to do as God wills instead of giving the world yet another reason not to become Christian.