The
Church Unity Octave, a forerunner of the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, was developed by Father Paul Wattson, SA,
at Graymoor in Garrison, New York, and was first observed
at Graymoor from January 18-25, 1908. Today, the Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community
throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer
of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John
17:21).
In 1966, the Faith and Order
Commission of the World Council of Churches and the Vatican
Secretariat (now Council) for Promoting Christian Unity began
collaborating as a common international text for worldwide
usage. Since 1968 these international texts, which are based
on themes proposed by ecumenical groups around the world,
have been developed, adapted and published for use in the
United States by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious
Institute.
Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity 2010
Chosen Theme: You Are Witnesses of These
Things.
(Luke 24:48)
The theme for the annual celebration
of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 has been announced
by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and
the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of
Churches. The theme for the 2010 Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity is You Are Witnesses of These Things. It comes from
Luke's gospel Chapter 24 verse 48. This is also the theme
which Scottish Christians have chosen to celebrate the centenary
of the Edinburgh Mission Conference.
The
Church Unity Octave, a forerunner of the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, was developed by Father Paul Wattson, SA,
at Graymoor in Garrison, New York, and was first observed
at Graymoor from January 18-25, 1908. Today, the Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community
throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer
of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John
17:21).