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Between the 18th and 25th of January of every year, Christian Churches and denominations join together in prayer in the process of reuniting as one Church. These dates were proposed in 1908 by Paul Wattson to cover the days between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul. Many students and educators in our schools belong to different Christian Churches and denominations. Therefore, this week is a significant opportunity to learn more about each other and to grow in unity. You can explore the process of ecumenism in the sections below.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025
For 2025, the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were prepared by the brothers and sisters of the monastic community of Bose in northern Italy. Internationally, the resources are jointly published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches. The resources in Maltese were prepared by the Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism.
2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the first Christian Ecumenical Council, held in Nicaea, near Constantinople, in 325 AD. This commemoration provides a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of Christians, as expressed in the creed formulated during this council.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 offers an invitation to draw on this shared heritage and to enter more deeply into the faith that unites all Christians.
The guiding biblical text for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 comes from John 11:17-27. The theme for the week, “Do you believe this?” (v. 26), takes its cue from the dialogue between Jesus and Martha when Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany following the death of their brother Lazarus.
Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 (Maltese)
Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 (English)
Ecumenical Service in Malta
The main Ecumenical Service in Malta will held on Friday, 24th January 2025, at 6:30 pm (CET) at Parish Church in Siġġiewi, Valletta.
More about Ecumenism
Ecumenism is the effort to unify divided Christians. It is a worldwide movement among Christians who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Through prayer, dialogue, and other initiatives, they seek to eliminate barriers and move toward the unity Christ willed for his church.
“Unity was one of Jesus’ most important concerns. He prayed to the Father, “that they may all be one … so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17,21).
Divisions are like wounds on the Body of Christ; they hurt and fester. Divisions lead to enmities and weaken the faith and credibility of Christians. Overcoming the separation scandal requires the conversion of all concerned and knowledge of one’s faith convictions, dialogues with others, prayer in common, and collaboration among Christians in serving mankind. Those in authority in the Church must not let the theological dialogue be interrupted.” (YouCat 131)
Explore more about ecumenism on the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity website.
 One VineInspired by the biblical passage of the unity between the vine and the branches ( Jn 15: 5-19) this prayer space inspires one to appreciate and pray for unity specifically amongst Christians of different denominations. |
 Moving ForwardIn this Prayer Space, we will reflect that all Christians, even if there are in different Christian Churches and denominations, find their unity in Christ. |
Past Weeks of Prayer for Christian Unity
“Love the Lord your God … and your neighbour as yourself” (Lk 10:27). This theme and related material have been prepared by an ecumenical group in Burkina Faso, a country between western Africa and the Sahara Desert.
The main Ecumenical Service in Malta was held on Friday 19th January 2024 at 6:30 pm (CET) at Saint Andrew’s Scots’ Church, Valletta.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna participate, together with other Church leaders in Malta, while a biblical reflection will be delivered by Papas Nikos Gongadze of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Melite, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
A booklet resource was prepared by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission. It contains resources that can be used on a personal and communal level:
- Prayers of forgiveness
- Prayers of intercession
- Daily Gospel Reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Information about the Diocesan Ecumenical Service 2024
This 2023 theme is “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17). This theme and related material have been prepared by the Council of Churches of Minnesota in the United States of America.
This resource prepared by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission contains resources that can be used on a personal and communal level:
- Prayers of forgiveness
- Prayers of intercession
- Daily Gospel Reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Information about the Diocesan Ecumenical Service 2023
The main Ecumenical Service in Malta was held on Friday 20 January 2022 at 6:30 pm (CET) at St Nicholas’ Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Merchants Street, Valletta.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna participated, together with other Church leaders in Malta, while a biblical reflection will be delivered by Pastor Klaus-Peter Edinger of the local Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The theme for 2022 is “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him. (Mt 2,2)” and was prepared by the Middle East Council of Churches.
The Ecumenical Commission of the Archdiocese of Malta, in collaboration with Christians Together in Malta (Malta Ecumenical Council), is pleased to offer a set of spiritual resources which can be used during this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It is very positive to notice that the students from the Junior College accompanied by their chaplain Fr Bernard Micallef and Dr Patricia Micallef, lecturer made their contribution.
This resource contains:
- Prayers of forgiveness
- Prayers of intercession
- Daily Gospel Reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Information about the Diocesan Ecumenical Service 2022
The Ecumenical Service in Malta
The main Ecumenical Service in Malta was held on Friday 21 January 2022 at 6:30pm (CET) at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta (Old Theatre Street).
Auxiliary Bishop Joe Galea Curmi presided and Pastor Earl Pingston (from the Evangelical Baptist Church) delivered a biblical reflection on this year’s wonderful theme.
Follow the readings for the ecumenical service
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