CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Greetings from Fr. Bob ...
In 1908, there was much disunity within the Church, but believing in the power of prayer, Father Paul and Mother Lurana dedicated the entire week of January 18–25 to praying for peace and Christian unity. Year after year, during this week the Friars share special prayers and invite others to join them in prayer. More than 100 years later, this week still remains a time for prayers and reflection. Now known, as the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” it is shared around the world.
As Christians we recognize that there is still much work, on many levels, to be done within the churches. In the words of Pope Paul VI, "The churches must build a bridge to the contemporary world, not to conquer it but to serve it." Further, Rabbi Heschel says, "All of humanity is one and whenever one man is hurt, we are all injured. For many things on earth are precious; some are holy, but Humanity is holy of Holies.
This spirit of unity is close to the hearts of all the Friars and Sisters, especially, during the month of January, the month of our founder, Fr. Paul Wattson's birthday. As we continue Fr. Paul’s tradition, hopeful that one day “all may be one” we know our prayers for unity must extend to include not only those of Christian faiths, but that we must pray that the religious divisions that separate all of us are healed.
As the world continues to become a more global community, the Friars promote unity by reaching out to other religions through our Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute. It is important to respect the religious conviction of others in order to promote peace and understanding. In these insecure times, it is vital for people of good will to share their faith and work together for harmony and reconciliation. It is only through these types of dialogues and understanding that we can hope to end the persecution and suffering of all of God's children.
And so, as we enter the New Year we will continue reaching out to people of all faiths because we believe that many things on Earth are precious, some are holy, and humanity is sacred. I invite you to join us in prayer this year as we continue our prayers for unity and understanding throughout the world in hopes that it may truly be a “new” year.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Bob Warren
2012 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY, JANUARY 18TH - 25TH
The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins January 18th, 2012.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).
This year's theme: We Will All Be Changed by the Victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. (cf. 1Corinthians 15:51-58)
Click Here for Week of Prayer Events Flyer >>
Learn More About the 2012 Week of Prayer >>
TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PROMOTE CHRISTIAN UNITY
- Pray each day with the Friars and Sisters of the Atonement “that all may be one … that the world may believe” (Jn.17:21). Click here for the prayer for peace and unity that’s said in every mass.
- Locate a special Week of Prayer service or program in your area and plan to participate. Invite your friends to accompany you.
- Keep in mind that “wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them,” — suggest regular meetings with similar groups in neighborhood churches: e.g. bible study and centering prayer, soup kitchens and homeless shelters, pastors and religious educators, etc.
- Create opportunities with other Christians to explore Interreligious opportunities by visiting other houses of worship — e.g. temple, mosque, shrine, etc.
- Create a calendar of opportunities for joint ecumenical activities — e.g. Blessing of Palms on Palm Sunday, Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, joint prayer services on World AIDS Day (December 1st each year).
- Look ahead to Pentecost (Sunday, May 27th, this year) and propose a joint choir festival with all the churches in the neighborhood celebrating the many gifts of the Spirit.
- Organize a neighborhood film festival using either commercial or religious productions to identify and discuss issues that matter to all – especially families.
- Contact your arch/diocesan officer and volunteer to support in whatever way you can local dialogues and other activities.
- Call “Family of Faith” to the attention of your parish music director. It’s a hymn that was written to commemorate the centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and it can be sung congregationally to several familiar hymn tunes. Click here to learn more.
- Subscribe to Ecumenical Trends for your pastor – and/or the pastor of a neighboring church – so that ten times a year he/she is reminded of the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper “that all may be one…that the world may believe.”
2012 RETREATS AT THE GRAYMOOR SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER
Since the opening of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in 1970, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement have offered people of many different religious traditions and all walks of life an opportunity to slow down and encounter the Spirit in their lives.
The Graymoor Spiritual Life Center offers a year-round schedule of weekend, weekday, and evening retreats and programs designed for both groups and individuals, including married couples, seniors, young adults, clergy, and men and women in recovery.
View the 2012 Retreat Schedule >>
SPECIAL MASS IN ROME IN CELEBRATION OF FR. PAUL WATTSON'S BIRTHDAY, JANUARY 16TH
On January 16, 2012, (Fr. Paul’s birthday), V. Rev. James F. Puglisi, SA, Minister General, will personally celebrate mass in Rome to remember all those benefactors who have helped the friars care for those in need.
Send Your Prayer Requests for this Special Mass >>
NEW WEBSITE FOR THE GRAYMOOR BOOK AND GIFT CENTER
The Graymoor Book and Gift Center Located at Graymoor in Garrison, NY, offers a wide selection of religious books, inspirational music, videos, greeting cards and variety of unique religious gift items including gifts for Baptism, Communion, Confirmation and Weddings. And now all this is available Online!
Visit the Graymoor Book and Gift Center Online >>
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UPCOMING RETREATS AT GRAYMOOR
• Fri. Jan. 6 - Sun. Jan. 8
SPIRITUALITY OF THE 12 STEPS
• Mon. Jan. 18 - Mon. Jan. 25
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Week of Prayer Events
• Fri. Jan. 27 - Sun. Jan. 29
MATT TALBOT MEN
ON-GOING MEETINGS AT GRAYMOOR
• AA, NA, SA, Al-Anon, Prayer Groups, Centering Prayer
Contact the
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center:
GSLC@AtonenmentFriars.org
845/424-2111
www.GraymoorCenter.org
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Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
Headquartered at Graymoor in Garrison, NY, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement is a Roman Catholic religious community with social, pastoral and ecumenical ministries in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, and Japan.
OUR MINISTRIES:
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
In the Franciscan tradition of hospitality, Graymoor Spiritual Life Center welcomes individuals and groups of all faiths for spiritual retreats, meetings, conferences and pilgrimages.
Located on a mountaintop overlooking the Hudson River Valley, facilities include overnight accommodations, large dining room, a library, three chapels, as well as meeting/seminar facilities.
Centro Pro Unione
Christian Unity and
Ecumenical Research
The Centro Pro Unione, founded and directed by the Society of the Atonement, is an ecumenical research and action center. Its purpose is to give space for dialogue, to be a place for study, research and information in ecumenism: theological, pastoral, social and spiritual.
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute promotes Christian unity and interreligious dialogue in North America through its monthly (except August) journal, Ecumenical Trends, Lecture Series, and Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources.
St. Christopher's Inn
Residential Shelter & Substance Abuse Treatment Center
St. Christopher's Inn is a temporary shelter dedicated to the rehabilitation of men in crisis. Today the Inn shelters over 1,200 men per year, most of whom suffer from alcohol and/or drug addiction.
Our mission is to offer a continuum of quality health care services that facilitate physical, emotional, and spiritual healing by providing chemical dependency treatment, primary health care, and temporary housing.
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ATONEMENT VOCATIONS
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