Presentation Sisters Union North East Ireland Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU 2021) is traditionally observed annually from 18 – 25 January. However, in the southern hemisphere, where January is a vacation time, churches find another time during the year to celebrate it, for example around Pentecost which is also a symbolic time for the unity of the Church. The theme for this year 2021, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit,” is inspired by John 15: 5-9. It was chosen to express the Christian community’s vocation to pray and work for reconciliation and unity within the Church, our human family and all of creation.
With over 100 years of history, this octave of prayer is a period set aside for Christians around the world to jointly pray for visible Christian unity and move closer towards the fulfilment of Jesus’ Last Supper prayer “that they all may be one.”
Prayer resources for your use
International resources for the 2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland, a group of religious sisters from different church traditions brought together by a common commitment to prayer and Christian unity in the Church and the human family.
Today the community has fifty sisters, all women from different generations, Church traditions, countries and continents. In their diversity the sisters are a living parable of communion. They remain faithful to a life of prayer, life in community and the welcoming of guests. The sisters share the grace of their monastic life with visitors and volunteers who go to Grandchamp for a time of retreat, silence, healing or in search of meaning.
For 2021, the sisters are inviting churches across the world to enter into their tradition of prayer and silence that is rooted in the ancient traditions of the Church catholic.
You can download a useful range of resources in Word and Pdf formats to suit your needs using the links below. These resources include a prayer service and daily prayer for the home that includes Scripture, a meditation, prayer, questions and a practical ‘Go & Do’ section.
Social Media & Resource Links
Resources for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021 (ctbi.org.uk)
In addition you may wish to explore the following links:
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021 | Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
and Pontifical Council for Christian Unity
In addition, those taking part in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are invited to share photos and social media posts to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Twitter wall – simply add the #wpcuwall hashtag to your Twitter post (note there is a delay before they appear). You can also find updates about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Twitter by following the #wpcu2021 hashtag.
See Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021
Abide in my love …
Opening Prayer
Lord, you invite us to abide in you who are the vinedresser who cares for us with love.
You call on us to see the beauty of each branch united to the vine,
the beauty of each person.
And yet, too often the differences in others make us afraid.
We withdraw into ourselves.
Our trust in you and one another is lost.Come and direct our hearts toward you once again.
That as one family we may praise your name.Amen.