“You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself” (Lk 10:27) is the theme chosen for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WCPU).

The international Christian ecumenical initiative which is observed in countries in the Southern Hemisphere from Ascension Day to Pentecost, dates back to 1966 when the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity began working with the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission to prepare materials for the annual Week of Prayer.

From May 9 to 19 Christians are encouraged to make use of the praying materials prepared by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso in collaboration with the local Chemin Neuf Community.

With over 50 nations heading to the polls this year, the Coordinating SACBC Secretary for the Department of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue, and Dialogue with the Secular World calls on the people of God to be united in prayer for peaceful elections in South Africa.

In a message shared with the SACBC communications office, Fr Bonaventure MASHATA MAfr says, “As we embark on this adventure of prayer for Christian Unity with Christ, let us pray as well for peaceful elections in South Africa, our country, which will occur on the 29th of May so that we may continue being united as ONE NATION that loves God and takes full care of its citizens, poor and rich alike.”