4 Sunday January 22, 2006 ■ CatholicNews
WHAT’S ON
By Sister Wendy Ooi, fsp
SINGAPORE – This year there
will be two opportunities for
Catholics and Christians of
different denominations to come
together to pray for Christian
unity.
The first prayer service will
take place on Thursday Jan 19,
2006 at the Church of St.
Ignatius, while the second prayer
service will be on Monday Jan
23, 2006 at the Toa Payoh
Methodist Church (480 Lorong 2
Toa Payoh). Both services begin
at 8pm and are open to all.
Catholics are encouraged to
bring their Christian friends.
IN JOHN 17, Jesus prays to the
Father for the unity of believers.
The phrase “that they may be
one” is repeated or rephrased
four times (John 17:11, 21, 22,
23), indicating the importance of
this petition to Jesus. Perhaps
when he prayed this prayer,
Jesus had in mind what was to
become of his body of believers.
Since the Great Schism of
1054 which divided the once
united Christian Church into the
East (Orthodox) and the West
(Catholic), the Catholic Church
has seen further divisions in its
history: the Protestant
Reformation of 1517 initiated by
Martin Luther, and the split of
the Church of England from
Rome in 1534 during the reign of
King Henry VIII.
The separated Christian
Churches experienced further
sub-divisions.
From the Lutheran branch
grew the Anabaptists (1525),
Presbyterians or Calvinists
(1536), Congregationalists
(1607) and Baptists (1607), with
the latter branching further to the
Adventists and Churches of
Christ.
Within the Church of England
or the Anglican (meaning “of
England”) Church, branched out
the Methodists (1738) and from
the Methodists branched out the
Pentecostals (1901) which
includes the Assemblies of God.
After the American Revolution in
1789, the Anglican Church in the
USA became known as the
Episcopal Church.
With so many divisions and
sub-divisions, Christianity may
appear to be in a sad, disunited,
scandalous state. However, there
is hope as more and more
churches are involved in
ecumenical activities. One
Father Albert Renckens, SSCC,
one of the organisers, hopes that
two venues this year will
encourage more Catholics to
participate.
“We should organise other
opportunities for people to pray
for Christian Unity,” he
commented. “Ideally we should
do it five times, over five nights
in the different districts in
Singapore. This year we
succeeded with two places. Next
year, maybe more.”
A worldwide observance, the
Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity is celebrated annually from
Jan 18 to 25. The theme this year
is: “Where two or three are
This “Where Two or Three
are Gathered in My Name”
poster was designed by Sister
Gerardine Mueller, O.P.
significant worldwide ecumenical
event is the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity.
When Catholics and
Christians around the world
observe the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, they continue
and, in a sense, realise the prayer
of Jesus in John 17.
The observance of the Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity
dates back to 1908. It was
initiated as Church Unity Week
by Rev. Paul Wattson, an
Episcopalian priest in Graymoor,
New York. Jan 18, the original
feast of the Chair of St. Peter,
was chosen to begin the Week
which would conclude on Jan 25,
the feast of the Conversion of St.
Paul.
Over the years, while the
dates remain unchanged, the
observance of the Christian Unity
Week has evolved. More
Catholics have been participating
in it after Vatican Council II
(1962-65). The latter’s Decree on
Ecumenism (1964) calls prayer
“the soul of the ecumenical
movement,” and encourages
Catholics to observe what has
developed to be the Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity. The
Decree says, “Such prayers in
gathered in my name, I am there
among them.” (Mt 18:20)
Father Albert Renckens encourages
Catholics to bring Christian
friends to pray for unity.
common are certainly an
effective means of obtaining the
grace of unity, and they are a true
expression of the ties which still
bind Catholics to their separated
brethren.”
Since 1968, the theme and
text for each year’s observance of
the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity are chosen and prepared by
representatives of the Pontifical
(Vatican) Council for Promoting
Christian Unity and the World
Council of Churches. The theme
for this year, prepared by the
churches in Ireland, is Mt 18:20,
“Where two or three are gathered
in my name, I am there among
them”.
The Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity is an important
ecumenical event that Catholics
are encouraged to observe at
various levels. Apart from
participating in the organised
prayer services with other
Christian churches, prayers for
Christian unity could also be
initiated in parishes, church
groups, neighbourhood groups,
and religious communities. This
would go toward fulfilling Jesus’
own desire “that (we) may all be
one.” (Jn 17:21)
FOR PRAYER FOR Christian
Unity resources, including an
introduction and explanation of
this year’s theme, visit:
– www.geii.org/
– www.vatican.va/
roman_curia/pontifical_councils/
chrstuni/weeks-prayer-doc/
rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20050603_week-
prayer-2006_en.html
– www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/
what/faith/wop-index.html
FOR A BIRD’S eye view of
the similarities and differences
betwen the different
Christian denominations and
the Catholic Church, visit:
www.religionfacts.com/
christianity/charts/
denominations_beliefs.htm ■
PERANAKAN MASS
The Holy Family Peranakan Group is
celebrating her 25th anniversary with a
Peranakan Mass to usher in the Chinese
New Year. Date: Chinese New Year Eve,
Jan 28 Time: 11pm Venue: Church of
the Holy Family. Main Celebrant: Fr.
Alfred Chan. All are welcome!
COMMISSIONING OF PRINCIPALS
AND COMMITMENT CEREMONY
2006 for principals and vice-
principals of Catholic Schools. Venue:
Church of Our Lady of Perpetual
Succour. Celebrant: Archbishop
Nicholas Chia. Date: Sat, Jan 21 Time:
6.30pm. All are welcome.
3RD SATURDAY MASS WITH
HEALING SERVICE at the Church of
St Michael’s. Date: Jan 21 Celebrant:
Fr. Tom Curran Session: 6.45pm – Rosary,
7.30pm – Praise & Worship, 8pm – Mass
with healing service.
CHURCH HISTORY COURSE
Conducted by Fr. Tom Curran, OCD.
Venue: Church of Sts. Peter & Paul,
Chapel Time: 7.30pm Date: 12
Mondays, starting on Feb 6. Course fees:
$50. Register with the church office.
THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE
PERSONAL VOCATION addresses
the consistency between the ideal
and actual value systems and
challenges us to live our Christian
vocation with integrity and freedom.
Ideal for leaders, teachers, catechists
and parents. Resource person:
Fr. Michael McGuire, SSC. PhD
(Clinical Psychology) Venue: SPI. Date:
Feb 24-27, (Fri & Mon, 2.30-6pm)
Contact: Shirley Louis (6858 7011)
or accs@catholic.org.sg Registration
fee: $180 (Meals included) Closing
date: Feb 13.
LUNCH TIME MASSES
Suntec The Rock Auditorium: Foyer Tue and Days of Obligation:
City 12.15pm, 1.15pm
Raffles Victoria Theatre Foyer:
Place Level 2
Outram Medical Alumni Association Wed and Days of Obligation:
Road of Singapore: Level 2 12.15pm, 1.15pm
Orchard Hyatt Hotel (see hotel notice Fri: 12.40pm, 1.20pm
for room allocation)
Shenton Singapore Conference Hall:
Level 2 (see notice for
CPS mass)
SESSIONS TO KNOW THE
CATHOLIC FAITH
Guided by Frs. Henry Siew and Kenny
Tan. Commencing: Feb 15, 7.45pm
Venue: St. Anne’s Church Contact: Iris
(9755 4565), Augustine (9853 9199)
email stanne@singnet.com.sg to register.
JOURNEY WITHIN SESSION
An afternoon of prayer, faith sharing and
moments to deepen your relationship
with the Lord to discern your vocation
in life. Date: Sat. Jan 21 Time: 3pm
Venue: Daughters of St. Paul, 47 Jurong
West, St. 42 Inquiries: 6560 8003
(Open to women aged18-28; Free)
From the CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY
CENTRE, 1261 Upper Serangoon Rd,
T: 6288 7901, W: www.catholic.org.sg/
csctr
• “Suffering – Why Me, Lord?” by Fr.
William Goh
Session: P&W, Mass, Talk Time: 7.30-
10pm Date: Jan 20, Jan 27 and Feb 3.
There will be a follow-up “A Change
Within” Conversion Experience Retreat
for those interested in spiritual
maintenance. All are welcome.
From The Bible Apostolate Ministry at
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, 248 Upper Thomson Road.
T: 6453 6340
• Journey Through the Bible with Sr.
Denise Hannebury from the Sisters of
Charity from Australia.
Sessions: 1) Abraham’s Call and God’s
Call to Me 2) Moses/Ten Commandments
– Jesus/Beatitudes 3) Leadership: Saul,
David: Judas, Peter 4) Paul: Conversion
and Ministry – My Ministry? Dates: Feb
1, 8, 15, 22 Time: 10-11.30am at Room
A2-01 or 8-9.30pm at The Attic.
• The Gospel According to Mark, 10
sessions with Fr. Ambrose Vaz
Encounter Jesus! Experience Jesus!
Respond to Jesus! Learn how to apply
the main themes of Mark’s Gospel in your
daily life. Date: Mar 8, 15, 22, 29; Apr
19, 26; May 3, 10, 17 Time: 7.45-
9.45pm. Venue: The Attic.
Please bring your Bible along for all the
above sessions.
Registration: Forms can be obtained
from the Parish Office or Contact: Jerry
(9128 1418), Genevieve (9815 4098),
Felicitas (9645 1951), Beatrice
(chewyeoh@yahoo.com)
Wed and Days of Obligation:
11.30am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm
Fri and Days of Obligation; 12.40pm,
1.20pm for 1st/3rd/5th Fri. The 12.40pm
session will be talks held by priests/
religious followed by Mass at 1.20pm
on every 2nd and 4th Fri.