By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

The chapel at Queen’s House of Retreat and Renewal was filled with song and prayer for a lunch hour worship service during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Staff and volunteers from Queen’s House led the service and provided ministries for the service, which was followed by a meal.

The service featured prayer resources prepared by the Christian churches in Malta, where the faith dates back to the time of the apostles. The week’s theme focuses on the hospitality shown by the islanders towards those shipwrecked on their shores, including St. Paul, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles: “They showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2).

Queen’s House executive director Brendan Bitz welcomed those assembled for the service.Sr. Teresita Kambeitz, OSU, led music ministry, and scriptures were proclaimed by Queen’s House live-in volunteer David Henderson, housekeeping representatives Romalyn Delarosa and July Gregorio, with prayers led by engagement and events coordinator Martha Fergusson.

Worship leaders included Fr. Paul Fachet, OMI and program director Sarah Donnelly of Queen’s House, and homilist Fr, Jakob Palm of Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church.

“Sin is a wound,” said Palm in his reflection on readings from Acts 28:3-6 and Matthew 18: 1-6. “A wound is the result of things being separated and divided… sin is the twisting and pulling apart of something that was originally good, something that was once one and whole.”

He added that understanding sin as primarily a wound in need of healing rather than simply a moral failure changes our response. “Then we might perceive that our divisions in the church – and therefore segregation in society – is not made whole by our efforts,” he said. “To stop the bleeding we need help, we need the Doctor’s healing, and that is Jesus.”

Evil fails to inflict wounds unto death where the love and kindness of Christ through the Holy Spirit is present, Palm asserted, reflecting on the account in Acts of St. Paul surviving the shipwreck and the bite of a poisonous snake. “The flame of the Holy Spirit is kindled when we act in kindness towards each other. It drives division, segregation, sin, death and the snake away. The divinity of Christ becomes apparent when we, Christ’s body, see the humanity and need of our neighbours: when we act with kindness.”

During the service, as Queen’s House engagement and events coordinator Martha Fergusson led the prayers of the people, individuals came forward with small oars, each marked with a word of reflection related to the prayer, placing them in the model of a boat on the altar to signify prayers for reconciliation, enlightenment, hope, trust, strength, hospitality, conversion, and generosity.

“We cannot face the storms of life alone. A boat moves forward when all row together. In the face of difficulties we recognize the need to pull together and to unite our efforts,” prayed Fergusson.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity celebrations continue in Saskatoon until the end of the week, organized by the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, including an evening social event with music on Friday, Jan. 24, and the Closing Celebration at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, corner of Taylor Street and Munroe Avenue.

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