National Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

By Rev. Fr. Carlos Reyes
Minister, Ministry of Ecumenical and Inter-faith Affairs, Archdiocese of Manila

(The Archdiocese of Manila celebrates the 2004 National Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on January 31 to February 7. This article seeks to provide a background on this activity and the efforts of the Church to foster ecumenism among Christian churches. It also gives the complete list of activities for the week-long celebration.)

 

The Ecumenical Movement

The opening statement of the Unitatis Redintegratio (UR) the Decree on Ecumenism promulgated by the Second Vatican Council on November 21, 1964 states that: “The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. “  Pope John Paul II issued his Encyclical Letter Ut Unum Sint (UUS) in May 25, 1995 reaffirming the Church’s commitment to Ecumenism.

In ancient times, the Church has been referred to as ekklhsia (assembly), koinwnia (communion), eirhnh (peace) and agaph (love). The Lord Jesus Christ founded “one Church and one Church” only and the divisions in the minds and ways of Christians cause great scandal to the World and damage the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to all creatures because it is as if Christ himself were divided. In the eve of his Passion, Jesus prayed for his disciples “ May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the World may believe that it was you who sent me.”  (John 17:21). It is of paramount importance therefore, that love and unity among Christians be restored. In recent times, the Lord has been rousing divided Christians to feel remorse over their divisions and to long for unity. Day by day, the Holy Spirit encourages within us the spirit, which fosters the movement for the restoration of unity among Christians, a movement called “ecumenical.” Those who invoke the Triune God and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior not merely as individuals but also as corporate bodies belong to it. The Roman Catholic Church feels this imperative to make “the partial communion existing between Christians grow towards full communion in truth and charity.”  (UUS 14).

The Four Dimensions of the Ecumenical Movement

Missionary

The primary concern of this aspect is to remove the scandal caused by the division among Christians. The World Missionary Conference of Edinburgh in 1910 was the first to address this matter. The formation of the International Missionary Council in 1921 followed right after. Themes ranging from inculturation to interreligious dialogue were taken up.

Dogmatic

The quest for unity in doctrinal themes like the theology on Baptism, Eucharist and the Ministry for example, are the main concerns of dogmatic ecumenism. The Conference on Faith and Order held in Losanna in 1927 spearheaded this effort. The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification between Lutherans and Catholics signed in 1999 is a major milestone in dogmatic ecumenism.

Practical

Common concerns in the political and social order are covered by the practical dimension of Ecumenism. In 1925, the World Association of Life and Work met in Stockholm to discuss common issues regarding the politico-social environment then prevailing in Europe. The horrors of the World War I and the climate which led to World War II animated Christians into action.

Spiritual

This aspect of Ecumenism seeks forums wherein Christians may be able to share moments of common prayer expressed in a common liturgy. The main goal is to have a conversion of the heart.

World Council of Churches

In 1937, church leaders agreed to establish a World Council of Churches, but its official organization was deferred by the outbreak of World War II until August 1948, when representatives of 147 churches assembled in Amsterdam to constitute the WCC.

WCC member churches today include nearly all the world’s Orthodox churches, scores of denominations from such historic traditions of the Protestant Reformation as Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed, and a broad representation of united and independent churches. The world’s largest Christian body, the Roman Catholic Church, is not a member of the WCC, but has worked closely with the Council for more than three decades and sends representatives to all major WCC conferences as well as to its Central Committee meetings and the assemblies. The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity appoints 12 representatives to the WCC’s Faith and Order Commission and cooperates with the WCC to prepare resource materials for local congregations and parishes to use during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Ecumenism and the Catholic Church

It is generally noted that the participation of the Catholic Church in the Ecumenical Movement was fifty years late with respect to the Protestant Churches. For many decades until 1958, the Roman Catholic Church offered prayers for Church Unity for eight days. The content of the prayer however, was for the Protestants and Orthodox Christians to “return” to the fold of the one Catholic Church. This changed in 1959 when on the last day of the Church Unity Octave, Pope John XXIII announced his intention to convoke a Council for the whole Church among whose intentions was the desire to invite the separated brethren to seek the unity that so many souls are longing for. With this, Ecumenism became a major preoccupation of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the Roman Curia, The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity takes care of ecumenical initiatives and activities. Here in the Philippines, the CBCP has a corresponding Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs. The Archdiocese of Manila is likewise committed in the promotion of Christian Unity through the Ministry for Ecumenism and Inter-Faith Affairs.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

 “The traditional date for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is  January 18-25. Those dates were proposed in 1908 by Paul Watson to cover the days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul, and therefore have a symbolic meaning ….

But the search for Christian unity is not limited to one week each year. We encourage you therefore not only to be flexible concerning the date but also to understand the material presented here as an invitation to find opportunities throughout the whole year to express the degree of communion which the churches have already received, and to pray together for that full unity which is Christ’s will. » (Excerpts from the material prepared jointly by the WCC and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity for 2004).

The theme for this year’s celebration is Jesus’ statement “My peace I give to you » (John 14: 23-31).”

National Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Philippines (NWPCU)

The National Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was prepared jointly by the member Churches of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). The series of meetings were truly permeated by an ecumenical spirit of love and unity. Of particular note was the active and wholehearted participation of the members of the Focolare Movement of the RCC. The activities for the NWPCU are the following:

PROGRAM - NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

January 31 – February 7, 2004

January 31, 2004                      SPORTSFEST

Venue:  Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary

             Time:    Whole Day

Jan. 31-Feb.1, 2004                 YOUTH ENCOUNTER
                                                2 day ecumenical youth dialogue                                

February 2, 2004                     CHURCHWORKERS DIALOGUE
                                                Venue:  Immaculate Conception Church
                                                 New York At., Cubao, Quezon City
                                                Time   :   3:00pm

                        LITURGICAL SERVICE

                        Venue     -  Immaculate Concepcion – New York, Cubao
                        Time   :      7:00pm

February 3, 2004                     LITURGICAL SERVICE

                                                Venue     -  CCLR – Community Church of Las Pinas
                                                Daisy Rd., Pilar Village, Las Pinas
                                                Time   :   7:00pm

February 4, 2004                     LITURGICAL SERVICE

                                                Venue     – Novaliches – Sta. Lucia Parish
                                                J.P. Rizal St., Brgy. Sta Lucia, Novaliches
                                                Time   : 7:00pm

February 5, 2004                     WOMEN ‘S DIALOGUE

                                                Venue     -  San Roque Parish – RC
                                                Mabini cor. 10^th Ave. Caloocan
                                                 Time :       3:00pm

                                                LITURGICAL SERVICE

                                                Venue:     San Roque Parish
                                                Mabini cor 10^th Ave. Caloocan
                                                Time   :     7:00pm

February 6, 2004                     LITURGICAL SERVICE

                                                Venue       -  Harris Memorial
                                                Taytay, Rizal
                                                Time   :        7:00pm

February 7, 2004                     CULMINATING ACTIVITY

                                                Venue -   Urdaneta, Pangasinan

PROPOSED SPORTING EVENTS

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

1. Outdoor Events
       a.       Basketball (1 indoor court, 1 outdoor court)    
      b.      Volleyball (1 indoor court, 1 outdoor court)
       c.       Soccer (Exhibition)
      d.      Water Games
                                                   i. Swimming Relay
2.  Indoor Events
       a.       Chess
      b.      Games of the Generals
       c.       Pool
      d.      Dama
       e.       Scrabble
        f.        Domino
       g.       Table Tennis
                                                   i.  Singles
                                                 ii.   Doubles
      h.       Billiards (Exhibition)
3.     Barrio Fiesta
       a.       Agawang Buko
      b.      Palo Sebo
       c.       Pillow Contest
      d.      Pukpok Palayok
4. Parlor Games

Schedule of Activities for Opening Day

January 31, 2004

Women’s Dialogue

San Roque Cathedral
Mabini St. cor 10^th Ave., Caloocan City
February 5, 2004

Proposed Program

Tema:  Paghahabi ng Panalangin at Buhay ng Kababaihan para sa Kapayapaan
             (isang dayalogo ng mga kababaihan tungo sa kaganapan ng buhay)

Daloy ng Gawain

3:30-4:00         Pagpapatala/Pagdadatingan at Batian
4:00-4:10         Hudyat ng Panimula                              GONG
                        Sulyap sa ating lipunang naghahangad ng kapayapaan (audio-video)
                        Katahimikan
4:10-4:15         Pambungad na Panalangin sa pamamagitan ng Awit  - Sacred Heart Choir
4:15-4:30         Layunin ng Pagtitipon, isang pagpapalawig ng ating tema – c/o Focolare
4:30—5:30       Aktibong pakikinig sa buhay at patotoong mga Kababaihan
Nagpapatuloy ang pag-asa ng isang biktima ng “survivor”ng Digmaan
·        ·        Lila Filipina
Pagninilay/Katahimikan
Panaghoy at hamon ng babaeng maralitang tagalunsod
·        ·        Bukas Palad
·        ·        Anakpawis/Kadamay – nanay Mameng
Awit ng Pagninilay
            Pangarap na Kapayapaan para sa Mindanao
·        ·        Amirah Lidasan, Moro-Christian People’s Alliance
Paglalakbay ng mga manggagawang kababaihan
·        ·        SM worker
Liturhiyang sayaw at awit                                  Jocelyn & Rommel
5:30-6:00         Bahaginan/Pangkating Talakayan at Panalanginan

                        Gabay na Daloy

1.      1.      Ano and sitwasyon ng kawalan ng kapayapaan at katarungan?
2.      2.      Ano ang larawan ng isang mapayapang Lipunan?
3.      3.      Ano ang aking ambag para sa kapayapaan?

6:00-6:15         Pagdiriwang ng Biyaya ng Buhay: Tayo ng sama-samang kumain
                        Hudyat Gong
                        Awit  Harana ng Bayan
                        Pagtitipon
                        Pagbubuod - Sr. Chayong
                        Panalanginan
                        Awit ng lahat         Humanity Shall Live in Peace -  Haranang Bayan

Churchworkers’ Dialogue

Immaculate Conception Parish
3^rd flr. New Building
Lantana St., Cubao, Quezon City

Participants:  Clergy and Lay both from the Catholic and Protestant side.        We are expecting at least 100 people but aiming for more.

Proposed Program

2:00-3:00pm    Registration
                        Socialization
                        Exhibits of joint activities (RC & NCCP)
3:00-3:15pm    Ecumenical Prayer/Song
                        Introduction
3:15-3:45         Theme:  Ministry of Peacemaking: To be Peacemakers in Our Service to
                        the Church (NCCP)
3:45-3:55         Testimony (NCCP)
3:55-4:00         Song or Artistic Presentation
4:00-4:30         Church Communion: Peace through the Art of Loving (RC)
4:30-4:40         Testimony (RC)
4:40-4:50         Introduction to the mechanics of the workshop
4:50-5:50         Workshop proper
5:50-6:00         Break
6:00-6:45         Plenary session for group reporting
6:45-6:50         Conclusion
                        Transfer to the church for the Liturgical Service

Guide questions for the workshop

1. Ano ang mga gawain sa pinaglilingkurang simbahan na nakakatulong sa pagpapalaganap ng kapayapaan?  (What is being done in your church that contributes to peace?
2. Anong ginagawang pakikibahagi sa ibang simbahan upang palaganapin and kapayapaan? (What is being done in collaboration with other churches to promote peace?)
3. Ano pa ang maaaring gawing magkatuwang ng mga simbahan sa pagpapalaganap ng kapayapaan?  ( What more can be done as a collective effort by the different churches to further the cause of peace?)

NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE ON PEACE 2004

Date and Venue          January 31 to February 1, 2004     

Guadalupe Minor Seminary

Program Schedule