The members of the Downtown Ministers Fellowship will observe this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (from today Ascension Sunday to Pentecost Sunday) with special emphasis and collaboration with the youth of the various Churches.

The Octave of prayer and worship begins and ends at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4.30 p.m. Next Sunday’s service youths of all the Churches will lead the service at which Archbishop Gilbert will be the homilist. During the week youth of the respective Churches will conduct and preach in a sister church other than their own.
The Anglican youth will lead today’s worship.

The theme for this year is “He makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” (Mk 7:37) and the services will be offered in solidarity with the people of Umlazi, Bhekithemba and surroundings, South Africa. The people of this region still suffer the effects of the long period of apartheid and the further challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Internationally the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed the last week of January. On January 17, Pope Benedict speaking at his weekly general audience in the Vatican’s audience hall, said this year’s theme referred to Christ’s healing of a deaf man and to the missionary responsibilities of all Christians.

“The theme underlines how important it is to translate the message of Christ into concrete initiatives of solidarity.”

The weekday services which begin at 5.00 p.m. are as follows:
Monday 21 – Moravian Church, Rose Hill. Leaders: London Baptist
Tuesday 22 – Salvation Army, Charlotte St. Leaders: RC youth
Wednesday 23 – Methodist Church, Abercromby St. Leaders: Church of Scotland
Thursday 24 – London Baptist Church, Pembroke St. Leaders: Salvation Army youth
Friday 25 – Church of Scotland, Charlotte St. Leaders: Moravian youth
Saturday 26 – Holy Trinity Cathedral, Abercromby St. Leaders: Methodist youth