Week of prayer for Christian unity

Hundreds of religious events have been organised to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which began yesterday.

The week is jointly organised by the Vatican and the Faith and Order Commission, which represents the Anglican, Free Orthodox and Reformation traditions.

Ecumenical services, prayer vigils, choral services and coffee mornings will be held in parishes all over Ireland between now and January 25th. The dedicated week dates back to 1908 but in Ireland it has been held in its current form since 1966.

Yesterday, the Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Seán Brady led a day of prayer for all clergy in Kylemore Abbey, Co Galway. In Derry tomorrow, an interdenominational service will be held in St Eugene's Cathedral, led by the Bishop of Derry, Dr Séamus Hegarty. The ceremony will also commemorate the retirement of Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev James Mehaffey.

In Sligo, the clergy will lead an ecumenical walk from the Catholic church in Dromard to the Church of Ireland church in Beltra. Unity prayer services will be held in both churches.

In Louth, the 36th annual Greenhills Ecumenical Conference will be held on Monday with the theme of Celtic Spirituality: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives.

Pope John Paul will lead a day of prayer for peace in Assisi, Italy, next Thursday to coincide with the week of prayer.