GRAYMOOR, N.Y. — The Franciscan Friars of Atonement, founders of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, will mark the 2026 observance with the release of eight daily video reflections, continuing a global ecumenical movement that began in a small chapel at Graymoor more than a century ago. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) was established in 1908 by Fr. Paul Wattson and Mother Lurana White, whose shared calling was to heal division in the church. What began as a simple octave of prayer has since grown into a worldwide observance embraced across denominations and continents.
Observed annually from January 18–25, the 2026 WPCU will feature eight short-form videos — one released each day on the Friar’s Facebook page and website — inviting Christians to reflect on unity through Scripture, prayer, and lived faith. The videos bring together Catholic, Episcopal, Reformed and Eastern Christian voices, reflecting the ecumenical spirit at the heart of the observance.
This year’s theme, “There is one body, and one Spirit” (Ephesians 4:4), was prepared through an international ecumenical process coordinated by the World Council of Churches and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, with the biblical reflections contributed by Armenian Christian communities. In the United States, the materials are adapted and shared through the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute (GEII).
“What began at Graymoor in 1908 as a simple act of prayer has become a global witness to the Gospel. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminds us that unity is not something we manufacture — it is a gift the Spirit has already planted within us. Our call is to nurture it through prayer, trust, and shared hope,” stated Fr. Jim Puglisi, SA.
Building on this legacy and theological foundation, the 2026 video series translates the Church’s long-standing prayer for unity into a daily, accessible invitation for contemporary audiences. Rooted in Scripture and shaped by ecumenical voices, the reflections are designed to be watched and shared throughout the Week of Prayer. Each video centers on a guiding question — including the Christian calling in a divided society, the relationship between peace and unity, the meaning of baptism, and whether unity and diversity can coexist — drawing viewers into daily prayer grounded in the writings of St. Paul.
“These videos are an invitation to slow down and pray together each day. They help bring the message of Christian unity into people’s homes and daily lives, where faith is lived and shared,” remarked Fr. Jim Gardiner, SA.
The Franciscan Friars of Atonement invite individuals, congregations, and communities worldwide to watch and share the daily videos, pray the themes together, and renew their commitment to Christian unity during the 2026 Week of Prayer.