Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, and Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, are marking the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a wide-ranging conversation on the theme of the parable of the Good Samaritan, ‘Go and do likewise’. Recorded in Armagh, both Archbishops are responding to calls from the Christian Churches in Burkina Faso to join with them in self-reflection and consideration of what it means to love our neighbour in the world today.
The full discussion between Archbishops Martin and McDowell for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity can be viewed on the homepage of catholicbishops.ie.
The annual Week of Prayer is an important opportunity for shared reflection and a reminder of our connection to our fellow Christians near and far, and encourages praying together for issues of common concern. Each year a Week of Prayer theme comes from a specific area of the world. For 2024, the discussion by the Archbishops of Armagh is a response to calls from the Christian Churches in Burkina Faso to join with them in self-reflection and consideration of what it means to love our neighbour in the world today.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place from Thursday 18 to 25 January, the octave of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This year’s chosen theme draws on the parable of the Good Samaritan with its call to ‘love the Lord your God … and your neighbour as yourself’ (Lk 10:27). Christians from the Catholic Archdiocese of Ouagadougou, Protestant Churches, and ecumenical bodies in Burkina Faso collaborated generously in drafting the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer. The Archbishops of Armagh are encouraging all to reflect on this year’s theme and to access prayer resources on https://ctbi.org.uk/week-
Photos and details of events held can be posted to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity wall by using the hashtag #wpcuwall. Updates about the Week of Prayer can be found on social media platforms including on X/Twitter using hashtag #wpcu2024
