Week of Prayer for Christian Unity celebrated Jan. 18-25, 2024: variety of events in Saskatoon

From Jan. 18 to Jan. 25, Christians all over the world are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity, holding special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

A number of events have been organized in Saskatoon and beyond to mark the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Exploring the scriptural theme “You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbour as yourself ” (Luke 10:27),  the materials for the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were prepared by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso facilitated by the local Chemin Neuf Community.

In Saskatoon, the week begins with an ecumenical prayer service and lunch at Queen’s House of Retreat and Renewal, 601 Taylor Street West, on Thursday, Jan. 18, beginning with worship at 11 a.m., followed by an optional lunch at 12 noon. Participants are asked to register in advance at 306-242-1916 or online for the prayer service only: LINK, or for both the prayer service and $16 lunch: LINK.

A long-standing tradition of early morning ecumenical prayer in different local churches continues in Saskatoon, with 8 a.m. worship followed by a light breakfast:

  • Friday, Jan. 19 at St. Paul United Church, 454 Egbert Avenue, Saskatoon.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 23 at St. Stephen Anglican Church, 10 Grosvenor Crescent, Saskatoon.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church, 1426 Alexandra Avenue, Saskatoon.
  • Thursday, Jan. 25 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 436 Spadina Cres East, Saskatoon.

An ecumenical Sunday worship service will be held during the Week of Prayer at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 at First Mennonite Church, 418 Queen Street, Saskatoon (parking available).

An ecumenical youth event, will be held at Zion Lutheran Church 323 4th Avenue South, Saskatoon on Sunday, Jan. 21, with a 5:30 p.m. dinner followed by activities until 8:30 p.m.

Message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – PDF (LINK)

De Margerie Series for Christian Reconciliation and Unity 2024 – Prairie Centre for Ecumenism (LINK)

“Loving Our Neighour”Throughout the week the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism will be collecting hats and mitts for the new overnight warm-up location at St. Mary Catholic Church in Saskatoon, provided in an ecumenical partnership with the Salvation Army.

De Margerie Series for Christian Reconciliation and Unity

This year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will also include events presented through the De Margerie Series on Christian Reconciliation and Unity on “Grassroots Ecumenism” with 2024 series guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Karen Petersen Finch.

Petersen Finch is an ecumenical theologian in the Reformed tradition who specializes in dialogue with Roman Catholic theology at the local, national, and international levels. She is Professor of Pastoral Leadership at The Presbyterian College in Montréal, QC, Canada and represents the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in the Reformed-Catholic Dialogue in the United States.

The De Margerie Series for Christian Reconciliation and Unity is named in honour of Fr. Bernard de Margerie, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon who has dedicated his life in ministry to the promotion of Christian unity.

Two public De Margerie Series lectures with in-person and livestream options available will be held in 2024: “Re-imagining Lay People as Stewards of Doctrine” 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Campion College, Riffel Auditorium, Regina, and  “Doctrine as the Fuel of Renewal” 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. Find the live-stream link at: www.youtube.com/@schmeisercentre.

In addition, an in-person only public workshop on “The Eucharist: Where Is Jesus?”  with Rev. Dr. Karen Petersen Finch will also be held in both Saskatoon and Regina: – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, followed by soup lunch at noon (free-will offering) at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 114 Kingsmere Place, Saskatoon; and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan 27 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 3239 Garnet Street, Regina.

(Ecumenism is supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.)

-30-

Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the coordinator of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon – rcdos.ca.