The Archdiocese of Chicago will be participating in the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, starting on January 18th. This week-long observance, which has been celebrated since 1908, brings together Christian churches from all over the world in prayer for unity.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, emphasized the importance of praying for Christian unity as part of a synodal vision of the Church. He stated, "Praying for Christian unity is an important part of a synodal vision of the Church, which calls all Christians to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading us in our walking together as disciples."

The theme for this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is "You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27). This theme was selected by the Pontifical Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the World Council of Churches, and the Christian Churches in Burkina Faso. It reflects the connection between love of God and love of neighbor, with a focus on challenging the boundaries of who is considered a "neighbor."

Pope Francis, in his prayer intention for the month of January, urged Christians to unite their prayers for the gift of diversity in the Church. He emphasized that diversity is an opportunity to rejoice and that the Christian community can grow as one body, the Body of Christ, through ecumenical dialogue with other confessions and Christian communities.

To commemorate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Archdiocese of Chicago will be hosting several local ecumenical prayer services. These services will take place on Saturday, January 20th at 7 p.m., Sunday, January 21st at 10:30 a.m., and Thursday, January 25th at 7 p.m.

For more information about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the local ecumenical prayer services, please visit the Archdiocese of Chicago's website at https://eia.archchicago.org/ or call 312.534.5325.

This week of prayer serves as a reminder of the importance of unity among Christians and the power of coming together in prayer for a common purpose. As Christians continue to seek ways to build bridges and foster unity, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity provides a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the teachings of Jesus and the call to love God and one's neighbor.