Working for unity between Catholics and Anglicans

(January 19, 2012) During this week of prayer for Christian unity, from January 18 to 25, the different denominations present in Rome are hosting a full programme of liturgical and other events that can foster greater understanding of the common values and unique heritages of each tradition. On Thursday, Rome's Centro Pro Unione and Lay Centre are holding a lecture by the editor of America Magazine, Jesuit Fr Drew Christiansen, followed by an ecumenical Celebration of the Word presided over by the director of the Anglican Centre, Canon David Richardson. The preacher at that service is Msgr Mark Langham, in charge of relations with the Anglican and Methodist Churches at the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. This year’s theme for the Church Unity Octave is, “We Will All Be Changed by the Victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s an extremely appropriate theme for us in the Catholic Church this year because the Holy Father has so underlined the importance of our faith in providing that ‘new look’ on the world - how faith can provide us with a way of turning what seems to be frail and weak and not going too well, into something that is wonderful and hopeful and glorious. So with the Year of Faith that he’s announced it’s a wonderful way of leading into that through this week of prayer for Christian unity.