Celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Rome

As in other years, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated in many parts of the world from 18–25 January. The texts for 2019 on “Justice and only justice you shall pursue” (Deut 16:18-20) were prepared by a group of Christians from Indonesia together with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian unity and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches.

In Rome, the Week of Prayer will be inaugurated with the celebration of Vespers presided over by Pope Francis on Friday 18 January at 5.30 pm in the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

Many initiatives will take place in Rome during this week, some of which are listed below:

Friday 18 January

- 17.30 Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls: Ecumenical celebration presided over by the Holy Father.

Saturday 19 January

- 16.00 Santa Maria Sopra Minerva: Finnish ecumenical celebration on the feast of Saint Henrik of Finland presided over by Bishop Jari Jolkkonen, Lutheran bishop of Kuopio, with the participation of Most Reverend Teemu Sippo, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Helsinki; His Eminence Leo, Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Finland; Bishop Brian Farrell and Monsignor Matthias Türk (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity). The homily will be delivered by Monsignor Raimo Goyarrola, Vicar General of Helsinki.

Sunday 20 January

- 17.00 S. Maria dell’Anima: Choir Concert, Evangelical-Lutheran diocese of Kuopio Finland.

- 17.30 Italian Methodist Church (Via XX settembre, corner Via Firenze): Churches Together in Rome Unity Service. Presiding: Revd Dr Tim Macquiban; Preaching: Pastor Mirella Manocchio, President of Italian Methodist Churches.

- 18.30 Pontifical Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum (Via di S. Nicola da Tolentino, 13) Ecumenical Vespers Service

Monday 21 January

- 18.00  Saint Paul Outside the Walls: Vespers with the Evangelical Lutheran community of Rome.

Tuesday 22 January

- 17.30  Saint Paul Outside the Walls: Vespers with the Romanian Ortodox community of Rome

- 17.30 Church of the sisters of Santa Brigida (Piazza Farnese, 96): Ecumenical Vespers with the Kuopio Choir. Presiding: Cardinal Koch, Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and All Finland, Bishop Jari Jolkkonen. Homily: Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and All Finland.

- 19.00 Parish of S. Felice di Cantalice (Piazza S. Felice di Cantalice, Centocelle): Meeting with representatives of different confessions present in Rome. Public transport: Metro C Pantano - 548 - 105

Wednesday 23 January

- 16.00 Saint Paul Outside the Walls:  Vespers with the Waldensian community of Rome

Thursday 24 January

- 16.30 Centro Pro Unione  (Via S. Maria dell’Anima 30): Conference of Dr Paula R. Gooder on “Walking on the Way: Accompanying Young People on the Journey Towards Christian Unity”, followed by an ecumenical celebration of the Word presided over by Revd Olivia Maxfield-Coote, and homily by Revd Sebastian Harries. The event is being organized by the Centro Pro Unione and the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas.

Friday 25 January

- 19.00 All Saints Church (Via del Babuino, 153): Choral evensong for the Feast of the Conversion of Paul. Followed by farewell to Canon John Kilgore.

As well, in collaboration with the Community of Sant’Egidio, meetings and prayer moments will be promoted in various parishes in the diocese, including the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, where evening during the week the prayer will be dedicated to Christian unity. Monday 21 at 7.00 pm Revd Tim Macquiban of the Methodist Church will speak at the community of San Romano Martire  (largo Antonio Beltramelli, 23); Wednesday 23 at 7.30 pm Father Vladimir Laiba of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will speak at the parish of San Giuliano (via Cassia, 1036); Thursday 24 at 8.30 pm Pastor Paolo Ricca of the Waldensian Church will be at Santa Maria in Trastevere, while on the same day Pastor Michael Jonas of the German Lutheran Church will speak at Santa Emerenziana (via Lucrino, 53) at 7.15 pm.