Here at St. Richard, we put ecumenism into practice, especially on the First Friday of each month, when we invite Christians from all faith traditions for Taizé Prayer. Invite your friends to join us on Friday, February 3, at 7:30pm.
 
January 18-25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is celebrated by Catholics, Orthodox and Protestant Christians worldwide. By participating in this Octave for over 100 Years, Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper "that they all may be one." This year is especially significant, as we are marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

It was in the context of the Reformation Anniversary that the Council of Churches in Germany took up the work of creating the resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017. This is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s publication of his 95 theses about what he saw as abuses in the Church of his time.
 
The World Council of Churches, working with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, writes:
The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity has worked hard to produce a shared understanding of the commemoration. Its important report, From Conflict to Communion, recognizes that both traditions approach this anniversary in an ecumenical age… Catholics are now able to hear Luther’s challenge for the Church of today, recognizing him as a ‘witness to the gospel.’ and so after centuries of mutual condemnations and vilification, in 2017 Lutheran and Catholic Christians will for the first time commemorate together the beginning of the Reformation. From this agreement and wider ecumenical context emerges the strong theme of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christina Unity: Reconciliation—The Love of Christ Compels Us (cf. 2 Cor 5:14-20).