Bangladeshi Christians seek to improve ecumenical unity
Christian Unity Octave program aims to strengthen bonds among the various denominations
An ecumenical prayer meeting is held at the Church of Bangladesh in Rajshahi city in which 30 Catholic and Protestant leaders participated on Jan. 18. (Photo supplied)
Catholics and Protestants have been attending prayer meetings and dialogue programs in Bangladesh to strengthen unity among members of various churches during Christian Unity Octave from Jan. 18-25.
Bangladesh’s eight Catholic archdioceses and dioceses have arranged ecumenical prayers and discussions with Protestant bodies acros the country.
On Jan. 18, an ecumenical prayer meeting was held in Rajshahi city with about 30 Catholic and Protestant leaders.
Pope Francis seeks prayers for global Christian unity
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has invited all Christians to join online prayers
Updated: January 18, 2021 10:45 AM GMT
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This photo handed out by the Vatican Media on January 15, 2021, shows Pope Francis holding a private audience with outgoing US Ambassador to the Holy See, Callista L. Gingrich (R) and her husband former US lawmaker Newt Gingrich, at The Vatican.(Vatican Media/ AFP)
Francis has stressed Christian unity as the week of prayer for Christian unity started on Jan. 18.
Encouraging the faithful to pray Christian unity, Pope Francis reminded them of Jesus request that we abide in His love so that we might bear much fruit.
January 18, 2021
In 1908, Rev. Paul Wattson, then an Anglican religious in Graymoor, New York, began a Church Unity Octave with the support of Anglican and Catholic prelates, including Cardinal William O’Connell of Boston.
The octave began on January 18, then the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter in Rome, and concluded on January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
The following year, Wattson and other members of his Society of the Atonement became Catholic, and in 1910, Wattson was ordained to the priesthood. Observance of the octave spread rapidly. In 1916, Pope Benedict XV, renaming it the Chair of Unity Octave, extended its observance to the entire Church.