News Archives » Fr. Harry Winter
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, 2023 January 13th, 2023
(Originally published at OMIUSA.ORG)
As our Oblate Prayer Book mentions, we observe each year the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from Jan. 18-25 (pp. 73-76). Our divisions hurt the way people view Jesus and the Church He founded.
Minnesota Council of Churches. Minneapolis, MN became a flashpoint for calls for racial justice and equity during the responses of communities to the George Floyd murder. This received worldwide attention.
The theme chosen for this year is “Do Good: Seek Justice,” from Isaiah 1:17. Materials for each day are available from the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute.: www.geii.org.
Many members of the Oblate Family reside in Minnesota. May we join with them in spirit as we observe the 2023 Week.
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday occurs on January 16. The Graymoor website gives special material linking the holiday with the Week of Prayer: click on “Prayer/Worship,” and search for “Homily Notes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”
Prayer for Christian Unity
O God of justice and peace, One in the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, enliven the unity of your Church on earth. Help us to see that our unity goes beyond unity in doctrinal essentials to an active unity of humanity with you and with one another.
Forgive us for not remembering we are brothers and sisters in equity and justice under your law of love. Help us remember that each of us is created in your Divine image and that we share the dignity of being your children. Temper your justice, O Lord, with mercy to forgive and heal our broken relationships. Unite us in a fellowship that recalls our baptism, which has conquered sin and death, hate and division in the power of the Paschal mystery of Jesus Christ.
Grant all this, O Lord, in his name and by the power of your Holy Spirit, now and forever, Amen.
Special Release of Resources for the Week of Christian Unity January 8th, 2021
FOR RELEASE TO ALL OBLATES, OBLATE INSTITUTIONS, and OMIUSA WEB:
(Editor’s Note: This news release was sent out today (January 6) by Fr. Jim Brobst alerting the Oblate community (or Mazenodian Family) of resources available for the week of Christian Unity prepared by Fr. Harry Winter, OMI. Fr. Winter’s website, “Mission-Unity-Dialogue” may be accessed HERE)
January 6, traditional feast of the Epiphany, God’s Revelation to the Nations
For All Members of the Mazenodian Family:
Special thanks to Fr. Harry Winter, OMI, for generously drawing our focus to these resources for the upcoming week of Christian Unity. He has distilled for us some helpful resources for our own participation in this missionary endeavors, even though pandemic precautions prevent much in the way of ecumenical or interfaith gatherings in crowds.
Admin Team
Fr. James Brobst, OMI
Please review pp. 73-76 of our Oblate Prayer book, explaining the importance of the annual Church Unity Octave, or Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I recommend especially the material for every parish and community published by the Vatican and the World Council of Churches, available from Graymoor: Click here. The theme this year is “Abide in My Love. . . . You Shall Bear Much Fruit”(Jn.15:1-17).
These materials include “Homily Notes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” which this year is Monday, Jan. 18. There is no doubt this year, with the Black Lives Matter movement, is more important than ever as we continue to overcome the effects of slavery in the USA.
During the Week of Prayer, we pray with more Evangelical Protestants than ever. They are our allies as we approach the Jan. 31 March on Washington and elsewhere to combat the effects of the Roe vs Wade abortion decision. Will President Biden and Vice-President Harris back off from the controversial position of the Democratic Party on abortion?
You may enjoy the mini-course on Christian Unity represented by the attached “Ecumenical Vademecum.” Although it is addressed to bishops, it is clearly written for every Catholic and indeed every Christian. Do not let the 50 pages overwhelm you. These are actually the half pages which the Vatican uses for some documents, and the language is less technical than usual.
Pope Francis continues to promote a vital New Evangelization, using elements from Popes John Paul II and Benedict, and including his special emphasis on people on the fringes. He alerts us to the growing number of drop-out Catholics, and those belonging to no religion. As a help for each member of the Oblate Family, please consult perhaps monthly the province website Mission-Unity-Dialogue. You may access it in two ways, either going onto www.omiusa.org and clicking on Mission-Unity-Dialogue, the fifth item on the right “Looking for Something?” or directly using www.harrywinter.org.
Let us profit from this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
The document can also be downloaded at this link: Vademecum-EN.pdf (christianunity.va)
Rev. James P. Brobst, OMI
Vicar Provincial for Mission & Ministry
U.S. Province, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Missionary Ecumenism: Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation and Lutherans October 20th, 2016
by Fr. Harry Winter, OMI, Ministry of Mission, Unity, Dialogue (MUD), OMI USA Province
www.harrywinter.org
Rev. Harry E. Winter, O.M.I. Coordinator of Ministry of Mission, Unity and Dialogue
The upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Sweden, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, to celebrate the 499th anniversary of Luther posting his theses, trumpets the importance of both Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and Missionary Ecumenism. Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary put it this way: “I’m carried by the profound conviction that by working towards reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics, we are working towards justice, peace and reconciliation in a world torn apart by conflict and violence.”
His Catholic partner, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, added: “Lutherans and Catholics will have the possibility of an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation, not simply in a pragmatic way, but in the deep sense of faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ” (press release from both LWF and PCPCU, Jan. 25, 2016).
Experts such as Norman E. Thomas note “Today the LWF is the strongest in staff and program of the various world confessional bodies” (Missions and Unity, 2010, p. 122). Oblates of course work side by side with Lutherans in Germany, Scandinavia, and the USA, especially our mid-western states. But the Lutheran signers of the 2013 joint booklet From Conflict to Communion come also from Brazil, Japan and Tanzania.
I recommend highly this 93 pp. booklet, which may be read and downloaded on the OMI USA website on Mission-Unity-Dialogue (www.harrywinter.org). The booklet was written to prepare for the Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2016 celebration. Chapters one, five and six are especially readable and relevant.
Many thanks to Archbishop Roger Schwietz, OMI, who when he was Bishop of Duluth, MN, made available to me the covenant he signed between the Diocese and the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In it, the importance of JPIC and Missionary Ecumenism are clearly stated. “We commit ourselves to:
- Confess to God and to each other our past and present prejudices against each other’s traditions, practices and beliefs, and allow God to forgive our sin against each other and God. (1 John 1:8-10)
- Acknowledge the importance of each other’s traditions, learn to appreciate the contributions of each confession to the mission and service work of the Church, and pray for the day when we celebrate the Eucharist as one community.
- Pray for one another in our worship, both public and private, as a sign of our unity in Christ, as God’s Holy Spirit leads us to a more open understanding of one another.
- Listen to the Holy Scriptures and together be instructed by them. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- Strengthen our witness to Christ in our struggle for peace and justice. (Micah 6:8; Luke 4:18-21)
A growing number of dioceses in the USA have similar covenants, some including Episcopalians (Anglicans) are called LARC Covenants (Lutheran, Anglican and Roman Catholic).
May every Christian involved in Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC) pray for the success of the meeting in Sweden. And may we sense the bonding between JPIC, Mission-Unity-Dialogue, and Spirituality.
Read more: Acceptance of ‘Declaration’ is a Move Away From Conflict, Dr. Scott Woodward writes that the annual Prayer for Christian Unity will be heard all week in San Antonio.
Read more: Oblate School of Theology Leads Preparation for Pope’s Visit to Sweden, on OMIUSA.org
