OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Ecumenism makes progress in Oceania: 20 May - 3 June Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Prayers for Reconciliation

Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Sydney (Fides Service) - Two weeks of intense ecumenical prayer in the Pacific from 17 May to 20 May the Church in Oceania celebrates the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and from 20 May to 3 June Prayers for Reconciliation will bring different Christian communities, civil society and other religious communities to reflect and pray together.
The theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity è “He makes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak” (Mk 7,37) is the same used for the same ecumenical week in the northern hemisphere from 18-25 January which ends with the feast of the conversion of St Paul. In the southern hemisphere the Week ends with the feast of Pentecost.
In Australia the tradition of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was passed on from Christian communities in South Africa. The custom was adopted in Australia, because of the presence of the same Christian communities and was institutionalised becoming an annual event to celebrate with input from the Catholic Orthodox and various other Christian Churches and communities.
Each denomination takes it in turn to host prayer meetings and reflection to promote unity and communion among faithful and ministers.
The Prayers for Reconciliation will involved Christian communities, civil society organisations and other religious communities, to increase awareness of the need to work together to promote social harmony reconciliation among the different segments of Australian society and for justice and the common good. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/5/2007 righe 24 parole 240)


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