Churches in Hong Kong will observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from Jan. 18 to 25, joining a global commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26), invites Christians to reflect on their shared faith as expressed in the Nicene Creed.
According to the Sunday Examiner, the Diocese of Hong Kong’s official news site, the week will begin with an ecumenical prayer meeting on Jan. 18 at St. Ignatius Chapel in Kowloon.
The event, organized by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, the Unity and Church Relations Committee of the Hong Kong Christian Council, and the Joint Ecumenical Working Team, will feature Reverend Wong Ka-wai of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China as the keynote speaker.
The service will be conducted in Cantonese and will include prayers and scripture readings emphasizing unity.
Another key event is a joint ecumenical communion service, scheduled for Jan. 23 at Sham Shui Po Tsung Tsin Church.
Colonel Philip Maxwell of the Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Territory will deliver a message during the service.
Attendees will have the opportunity to connect during a tea fellowship following the service. Pre-registration is required for those planning to join.
In addition to these gatherings, a joint statement will be issued by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia, and the Hong Kong Christian Council, highlighting the importance of ecumenical cooperation and the shared commitment to unity among Christian communities.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an annual observance held worldwide, with this year’s reflections and resources developed by the monastic community of Bose in northern Italy in collaboration with international Christian organizations.
The materials aim to inspire Christians to reflect on the enduring significance of the Nicene Creed and to deepen their commitment to the faith that unites them.
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong encouraged the faithful to attend the gatherings and embrace the opportunity to join in fellowship and prayer with Christians from different denominations.