Imagine what it would be like if the 2 billion Christians around the world were united in one church. “It would be a more peaceful, just, and humane world.”
That’s what Father Stephan Isaac, Director of the Office of Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue for the Diocese of Allentown, said to participants during an evening of prayer Jan. 21. About 60 members of the diocesan family were gathered at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown to observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Father Isaac proceeded to speak on the Gospel of John chapter 17, where Jesus prays directly to God the Father. Jesus states in verses 20-23, “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”
This passage, said Father Isaac, could be seen as an examination of conscience. “The Lord desires unity of all His followers and His disciples. But then we look at the state of Christianity and the state of the world and ask ‘Is the Lord’s will being done?’ No. Sadly, it’s not.”
Father Isaac encouraged those gathered to see this as a sign to pray fervently for this cause.
The evening of prayer began at 5:30 p.m. with Exposition. Gathered around the Blessed Sacrament, the faithful prayed for the restoration of unity among all Christian denominations.
Confessions were offered by Father Isaac, also Chaplain at Bethlehem Catholic High School and Lehigh University Newman Center, Bethlehem, and resident at Notre Dame of Bethlehem; Father John Gibbons, Pastor of Immaculate Conception BVM and Sacred Heart of Jesus, Allentown; Father Richard Brensinger, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown; and Father Herman Pongantung, M.S.C., resident at the Cathedral.
Also in attendance was Father Matthew Hummel, Pastor of St. John Paul II Ordinariate Community in Bethlehem.
At 7 p.m., Father Isaac prayed Vespers, followed by his reflection.
“This week is for that special intention [of Christian Unity],” said Father Isaac. “And frankly, I don’t think we pray enough for it as Catholics; and we have to. We have to.”
Th evening closed with Benediction, reminding the faithful of their ongoing call to pray for unity among their non-Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity dates back to 1908 when a movement among Christians began the initiative. According to EWTN, the Catholic Church joined the celebration of the Octave in 1918 with the promotion and endorsement of it from Pope St. Pius X and Pope Benedict XV.
The goal each year has been to pray for full communion of all of Christ’s disciples. The week is traditionally observed each year between the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
By Jennifer Russell
Photo by Vargas Photography.
