“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4)
In the Gospel of John, Christ prays for his disciples shortly before his passion. He asks that his followers “may all be one,” as he and the Father are one, “so that the world may believe” and have life in his name. (John 17). Even before his death, Christ is making clear that unity is central to the very being of his church and to its mission and witness. It is at the core of our Christian identity.
That unity is often hard to recognize in our modern world where the long and painful history of Christianity has resulted in divisions due to theological, liturgical, and political reasons. Many now strive to heal these divisions, yet also honour our diversity, through prayer, ecumenical events, and building relationships. Unity is not about uniformity, but a common commitment to the core truths of the Christian faith, to serve as powerful witnesses to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an annual ecumenical celebration where we put this desire for unity into practice. From Sunday, January 18th to Sunday, January 25th, Christians around the world are invited to pray for the unity of all Christians, to reflect on Scripture together, to participate in jointly-organized ecumenical services, and to get to know one another by sharing fellowship. This worldwide observance has been going on for 118 years!
For several years, St. Mary’s Parish has been active in celebrating the Week of Christian Unity with St. Thomas Anglican Church. We take turns hosting the event, and this year it is St. Thomas’s turn to host. St. Thomas is just a short drive along 41st Avenue from St. Mary’s. You are both invited and encouraged to come the evening of Thursday, January 22nd to be part of this ecumenical service which, this year, has been created by the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical churches. (Armenia was the first nation to declare Christianity as its official religion in the year 301 A.D.) Come and meet some of your Christian neighbours and take part in a collaborative effort to bring about unity and peace. And consider bringing a non-Catholic neighbour who might enjoy experiencing this celebration of Christian unity.
Where: St. Thomas Anglican Church, 2444 E. 41st Avenue, Vancouver
When: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026
Ann Marie Carlson
Coordinator, Inter religious dialogue
St. Mary’s Parish, Vancouver
