Ecumenical initiative thrives
By Agnieszka Krawczynski
The B.C. Catholic

Caption: Linda Harder.

Prayer is bringing Christians across the globe together in a special way this week as followers of Christ celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25.

“It’s a terrific, positive week,” said Linda Harder, a member of St. Ann’s Parish in Abbotsford. For at least eight years, churches in her community have been getting together at the start of each new year to learn about each other and pray for unity. “I’ve learned so much about them.”

Harder chairs a committee of pastors and volunteers across various Christian denominations in Abbotsford that take turns hosting celebrations for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed, and United Christians choose which day of that week they will host a prayer service at their church.

For six days, participants pray and reflect on resources provided by the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, which have been working together on this annual event since 1966.

Locals also listen to a homily by the resident pastor, sing along with the church choir, and share a lunch prepared by church volunteers.

“All the pastors agreed that their congregations really like this. They like to see the insides of different churches. They like to hear the homilies from the different pastors and the different music.”

Harder said the initiative is thriving, despite the fact that five out of six of their services are at noon on weekdays.

“It has definitely grown.” She guessed the number of people attending has probably doubled since she took charge five years ago.

It strengthens the local Christian community, Harder said. “It’s quite dear to my heart. My son is an evangelical pastor in Kelowna.”

Events that bring together all Christians, such as the prayer services this week, help her relate to her son and “better understand each other’s beliefs, and be able to dialogue and talk about it.”

Other churches in Coquitlam, Hope, and Vancouver will also host prayer services for unity this week.

Father Paul Wattson in Graymoor, N.Y., the founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, first proposed the week of prayer in 1908. It was then called the “Church Unity Octave.”

The Second Vatican Council encouraged Catholics to observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in its Decree on Ecumenism in 1964. Over the years, the event has continued to spread to include more Christian denominations.

Pope Francis is praying for dialogue among a wider range of believers this month.

In his first-ever video message of prayer intentions, the Pope asked Catholics to join him in asking God for interreligious talks that bring about justice and peace.

“Most of the planet’s inhabitants declare themselves believers. This should lead to dialogue among religions,” he says as the camera focuses on a Buddhist, a Christian, a Jew, and a Muslim.

“Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or meeting God in different ways. In this crowd, in this range of religions, there is only one certainty we have for all: we are all children of God.”


Prayer services

These churches will join in prayer as they hold special services for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.


Jan. 18

St. Matthew Anglican Church

2010 Guilford Dr., Abbotsford, 12:15 p.m.


Jan. 19

Peace Lutheran Church

2029 Ware St., Abbotsford, 12:15 p.m.


Jan. 20

Calvin Presbyterian Church

33911 Hazelwood Ave., Abbotsford, 12:15 p.m.

All Saints Catholic Church

1405 Como Lake Ave., Coquitlam, 7 p.m.


Jan. 21

St. Ann’s Catholic Church

33333 Mayfair Ave., Abbotsford, 12:15 p.m.

Christ Church Anglican

681 Fraser St., Hope, 7 p.m.

St. Mark’s Catholic

5935 Iona Dr., Vancouver, 7 p.m.


Jan. 22

Trinity Memorial United Church

33737 George Ferguson Way, Abbotsford, 12:15 p.m.


Jan. 24

Highland Community Church

3130 McMillan Rd., Abbotsford, 7:30 p.m.