Christians unite for week of prayer

Christians from numerous denominations across Canada made plans to worship and pray together during this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from Jan. 18 to 25.

A service at St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal has been one of the biggest Canadian events in recent years. In 2008, it drew about 1,400 people, and organizers expected at least as many to attend on Jan. 25.

At Toronto’s St. James Cathedral, a vesper service was to be jointly celebrated by Bishop Colin Johnson, Roman Catholic Archbishop Thomas Collins and Bishop Michael Price of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada on Jan. 18.

This year’s theme, “That they may become one in your hand,” which comes from Ezekiel 37:15-19, 22-24a, was chosen by an ecumenical group in South Korea.

Churches across Canada planned numerous excumenical events during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.