Week of Prayer to be Observed January 18 through 25
Diocesan Press Service. November 30, 1970 [91-14]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated throughout the country by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christians, will be observed from January 18 through 25, 1971.
Started more than sixty years ago as an attempt to bring "separated" Christians from the different major faiths together, the Week of Prayer has now also become an occasion to pray and work for reconciliation between Christians within each faith group who are separated from each other due to race, age, political views and economic class.
"As contrary points of view develop on even local issues we run the risk of losing affection for each other and of excluding those who disagree with us," states the preparatory pamphlet published by the sponsors.
They are the National Council of Churches' Commission on Faith and Order, in collaboration with the World Council of Churches' Commission on Faith and Order and the Graymoor Ecumenical Institute. The celebration is supported by the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, a committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and by the Episcopal Church's Joint Commission on Ecumenical Relations.
The theme for the 1971 Week of Prayer will be "The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit."