2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Events
Diocese of Palm Beach
Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
561-775-9540

Saturday, January 14 
– Unity Celebration and Ministry Fair at 12:00 pm (Noon)

This is hosted by Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in North Palm Beach. Participants – Faith Lutheran Church, North Palm Beach; Gardens Presbyterian Church, Palm Beach Gardens; Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Juno Beach; More Than Conquerors Life Center, West Palm Beach; Oceanview United Methodist Church, Juno Beach; Soul Harvest Outreach Ministries, West Palm Beach; Saint Clare Catholic Church, North Palm Beach; Saint Francis Catholic Church, Riviera Beach; Saint George Episcopal Church, Riviera Beach; Cathedral of Saint Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, Palm Beach Gardens; Saint Mark Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens; Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Palm Beach Gardens; Tropical Sands Christian Church, Palm Beach Gardens; Trinity United Methodist Church; West Palm Beach, Young Life of Palm Beach County, North Palm Beach - (Host address/location: Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 10970 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach)

Thursday, January 19 

 -Prayer and Scripture Service at 7:00 pm

This is hosted by Saint Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington.

Participants – Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, Royal Palm Beach; Saint Therese de Lisieux Catholic Church, Wellington

(Host address/location: Saint Michael Lutheran Church, 1925 Birkdale Drive, Wellington)

Thursday, January 19
 – Unity Service at 7:00 pm

This is hosted by First United Methodist Church in Jupiter.

Participants – Saint Peter Catholic Church, Jupiter; The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Tequesta

(Host address/location: First United Methodist Church, 815 E. Indiantown Road, Jupiter)

Saturday, January 21

 – Prayer Service at 11:00 am followed by a lunch social

This is hosted by Saint Ann Catholic Church in West Palm Beach.

Participants – Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Lantana; Dunklin Memorial, Okeechobee; Faith Dialogue, Palm Beach Gardens; Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Jensen Beach; Christ Fellowship Church, West Palm Beach

(Host address/location: Saint Ann Church, 310 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach)

Tuesday, January 24
 – Christian Unity Service at 7:00 pm

This is hosted by The Chapel of Saint Andrew Episcopal Church in Boca Raton.

Participants – Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Boca Raton; Saint David Armenian Apostolic Church, Boca Raton

(Host address/location: The Chapel of Saint Andrew Episcopal Church, 2707 N.W. 37th Street, Boca Raton)

Tuesday, January 24
 - Evening Prayer Service (vespers) at 7:00 pm

This is hosted by Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach.

Bishop Edward Burns, Bishop-elect of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, will be joined by Bishop Robert Schaefer of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, Evangelical

Lutheran Church and Bishop Peter Eaton of the Episcopal Southeast Diocese of Florida for an Evening Prayer Service (vespers). The prayer service will be

held in the St. Vincent Chapel.

(Host address/location: Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, 10701 South Military Trail, Boynton Beach)

2016 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Events

2016 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Events

Diocese of Palm Beach

Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations

Tuesday January 19^th

St. Peter Church, Jupiter. (Host) 7:00 PM

Liturgy, Prayer, and Music Service

(David Licata, Edwin Velasquez, Larry Condon, Mike Burke)

Tuesday January 19^th

St. David Armenian Apostolic Church. (Host) 7:00 PM

(Ken Vianale)

Wednesday, January 20^th

St. David in the Pines, Wellington. (Host) 7:00 PM

Bishop Peter Eaton from the Episcopal Diocese of

Southeast Florida and Bishop Barbarito will be attending.

(Robert Laquerre, Rodney Brimlow, Oscar Rios, Vincent Mueller)                  

Saturday, January 23^rd

St. Ann Church, West Palm Beach. (Host) 11:00 AM.

Prayer service will followed by a get-together lunch at the patio. 

Mike McDonald and Mike Miller will be the coordinators for the event.

(Louis Romero, Edwin Lopez, Andre Boucher)

Saturday, January 23^rd

Oceanview United Methodist Church, Juno Beach. (Host) 12:00 Noon

Unity Celebration and Ministry Fair

(David Zanotelli, Ken Stromberg, Martin Sandigo)

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2016 Theme Announced

Lutheran-Catholic 2016 Joint Ecumenical Commemoration

In Lead-up to 500th Anniversary of Reformation in 2017

Rome, January 19, 2015 (courtesy of Zenit.org) |

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) will jointly host an ecumenical event in the fall of 2016 as a continuation of the process “From Conflict to Communion” and to express the joint gifts received through dialogue, particularly in anticipation of the 500th Reformation anniversary in 2017. The year 2017 also  marks 50 years of ecumenical dialogue between the LWF and the Roman Catholic Church.

Within the framework of the forthcoming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the two organizations announce that they have begun deliberations on the details of the event that comes a year before the global Reformation anniversary.

The joint event in 2016 will highlight the solid ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans which are captured in their joint report From Conflict to Communion - Lutheran- Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017.

Published in 2013 by the Lutheran – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity, "From Conflict to Communion" is the first attempt by both dialogue partners to describe together at an international level the history of the Reformation.

The report identifies the theological issues at stake during the 16th century Reformation and traces their ecumenical progress. The document also includes five ecumenical imperatives for dialogue and joint witness. It also provides a basis for the joint preparation of liturgical material to be offered to both Catholic and Lutheran churches around the world.

From Conflict to Communion builds on decades of theological work between Catholics and Lutherans, including the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, which was signed by the LWF and PCPCU on 31 October 1999, affirming consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification.

The venue, key speakers and participants in the event will be announced in due course.

“One of the principles for the LWF in commemorating the Reformation is to do so in a spirit of ecumenical accountability. We therefore welcome the opportunity to explore ways to build on the longstanding dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church to begin to plan a joint event in the lead-up to 2017. From Conflict to Communion is offering us a good basis for these explorations,” said LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge.

Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said: “By concentrating together on the centrality of the question of God and on a Christocentric approach, Lutherans and Catholics will have the possibility of an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation, not simply in a pragmatic way, but in the deep sense of faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ, whom Luther has brought to light again. ‘On this occasion’, as Pope Francis stated, ‘for the first time, Lutherans and Catholics will have the opportunity to share one ecumenical commemoration throughout the world, not in the form of a triumphalistic celebration, but as the profession of our common faith in the Triune God.’ This is the task that lies ahead of us today, and only together it can be addressed.”

Lutherans, Catholics Plan Joint Ecumenical Commemoration in 2016

In Lead-up to 500th Anniversary of Reformation in 2017

Rome, January 19, 2015 (Zenit.org) | 541 hits

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) will jointly host an ecumenical event in the fall of 2016 as a continuation of the process “From Conflict to Communion” and to express the joint gifts received through dialogue, particularly in anticipation of the 500th Reformation anniversary in 2017. 

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Deacon Frank Bandy assigned to Ecumenical & Interreligious Ministry

Bishop Gerald M Barbarito has appointed newly ordained Deacon Frank Bandy to assist Deacon Dennis Demes and Mrs. Lynn Powell in the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations for the Diocese of Palm Beach.  Deacon Frank will serve as coordinator of outreach ministries for the office and has listed the following events.

Ecumenical Calendar of Events:

I.  Kairos Prison Ministry-  

Nov. 6 - 9th, 2014- Weekend retreat at Okeechobee Correctional Institution.  Please pray for the team and the candidates.

Nov. 6 - 9th, 2014- Weekend retreat at Martin Correctional Institution.  Please pray for this team and candidates as well.

II.  Family Promise-  Homeless Families Ministry-

Nov. 14th, 2014- Friday @ 6:30pm at St. Paul of the Cross (Coffeehaus).  

Volunteer training & orientation.  All are welcome.

            

Nov. 23 > 29th, 2014-  Host Event at Our Lady of Florida-  the St. Paul of the Cross team will be Hosting homeless families in transitionduring the Thanksgiving week.  Consider giving thanks for God's generous gifts in your life by serving on this wonderful ministry to these 

beautiful homeless families in our community.

III.  P.E.A.C.E.-  People Engaged in Active Community Efforts-

October 27, 2014 @ 7pm @ 1st Baptist Church, W.P.B., Fl.

General meeting for members of the PEACE Movement.

January 12th, 2015 (tentative) @ St. Patrick Church, 13591 Prosperity Farms Road, P.B.G., Fl. 

Orientation and Introduction to the movement by Fr. John DeMello.

IV.  Unity Celebrations-  Christian Unity Gatherings-

Dec 7th, 2014  4- 5pm @ Palm Beach Gardens Community Center 4404 Burns Road, PBG, Fl.

9th Annual Christmas Celebration- Singing of Christmas Carols by the Christian Community.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Materials are available for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from the Graymoor Ecumenical Institute as this address:

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4124378687603882472#editor/target=post;postID=4769264575252668313

2016 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Events

Diocese of Palm Beach

Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations

Tuesday, January 19 - Liturgy, Prayer and Music Service at 7:00 p.m.
          This will be hosted by Saint Peter Church in Jupiter.
          (Host address/location:  Saint Peter Church, 1701 Indian Creek Parkway, Jupiter)

 Tuesday, January 19 - Unity Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.

           This will be hosted by Saint David Armenian Apostolic Church in Boca Raton.
            Participants - St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Boca Raton; and The Chapel of
            St. Andrew Episcopal Church, Boca Raton.
            (Host address/location:  Saint David Armenian Apostolic Church, 2300 NW 51st St.,
            Boca Raton) 

           

Wednesday, January 20 - Unity Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.

           This will be hosted by Saint David in the Pines in Wellington.  Participants - St. Rita
           Catholic Church, Wellington; St. Therese de Lisieux, Wellington; Our Lady Queen of the
           Apostles, Royal Palm Beach; St. Peter United Methodist Church, Wellington; St. Nicholas
           Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Delray Beach; and St. Peter, Seal of the Martyrs Coptic
           Orthodox Church, West Palm Beach.
           (Host address/location: Saint David in the Pines, 465 West Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington) 
      

Saturday, January 23 - Prayer Service followed by a get-together lunch on the patio
                                        at 11 a.m.

           This will be hosted by Saint Ann Church in West Palm Beach.  Participants - Dunklin
           Memorial Church, Okeechobee; Faith Dialogue, St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church,
           Jensen Beach; Christ Fellowship, West Palm Beach; and St. Patrick Episcopal Church,
           West Palm Beach.
           (Host address/location: Saint Ann Church, 310 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach)
 

Saturday, January 23 - Unity Celebration and Ministry Fair at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
          This will be hosted by Oceanview United Methodist Church in Juno Beach.  Participants -
            Gardens Presbyterian Church, Palm Beach Gardens; Nativity Lutheran Church, Palm
            Beach Gardens; Faith Lutheran Church, North Palm Beach; Trinity United Methodist
            Church, West Palm Beach; Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Juno Beach; Tropical Sands
            Christian Church, Palm Beach Gardens; St. George Episcopal Church, Riviera Beach;
            St. Mark Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens; St. Patrick Catholic Church, Palm
            Beach Gardens; St. Clare Catholic Church, North Palm Beach; Cathedral of St. Ignatius
            Loyola, Palm Beach Gardens; and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Riviera Beach.
            (Host address/location:  Ocenview United Methodist Church, 701 Ocean Drive, Juno Beach) 

          

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY JANUARY 18–25, 2015

 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
JANUARY 18–25, 2015

Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."
John 4:7

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2015 Theme Announced
By: Fr Thomas Orians, SA
Associate Director – Graymoor 
Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute

The 2015 theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been selected.  For the coming year the theme finds its origins in the Gospel of John:4:1-42. The initial work on the theme for this year’s Week of Prayer material was prepared by a group of representatives from the National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC). CONIC appointed a working group formed by representatives from its member churches and affiliated ecumenical organizations to arrive at the theme. The texts were then approved at a meeting held in São Paulo, Brazil of the International Committee composed of members of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, and the Pontifical Council for Promoting of Christian Unity.

The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman invites us to try water from a different well and also to offer a little of our own. In diversity, we enrich each other. When Jesus says to her, “please give me a drink” it implies an ethical action that recognizes the need for one another in living out the Church’s mission. It compels us to change our attitude, to commit ourselves to seek unity in the midst of our diversity, through our openness to a variety of forms of prayer and Christian spirituality. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a privileged moment for prayer, encounter and dialogue. It is an opportunity to recognize the richness and value that are present in the other, the different, and to ask God for the gift of unity.

The traditional period in the northern hemisphere for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is 18-25 January. Those dates were proposed in 1908 by Paul Wattson, Founder of the Society of the Atonement, to cover the original days of the feasts of the Chair of St. Peter  (January 18) and the Conversion of  St. Paul (January 25) , and therefore have a symbolic significance.