Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

With immense joy and anticipation, we extend a heartfelt invitation to join us for the 2024 Statewide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service, graciously hosted by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.

Please join Bishop Weisenburger and other church leaders from throughout Arizona at St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church, located at 8849 East Cholla Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 6:30 pm. This prayer service will be an opportunity to join with others throughout the state to pray for the visible unity of all Christians.

What is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity?

Source: USCCB
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years , in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity.  By annually observing the WPCU, Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper "that they all may be one."  (cf. John 17:21)

For the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024, the Pontifical Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the World Council of Churches, and the Christian Churches in Burkina Faso selected "You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself," from the Gospel of Luke 10:27. This theme highlights the call for charity, mercy, justice, and unity in inter-communal relations.

The theme, taken from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, reflects the connection between love of God and love of neighbor with a particular concern for challenging the boundaries of who is considered "neighbor". In this pericope, Jesus is questioned as to the path to eternal life. His answer is not to only observe the commandments, but to also imitate the love of God in the giving of self for another.