The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to 25th January – the octave of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The theme chosen for 2016 is ‘Salt of the Earth’, which is inspired by the verses from Peter’s first letter (1 Peter 2:9-10) and Jesus’ metaphors of salt and light. Peter’s letter is an encouragement to the newly baptised to live holy lives and to answer the calling shared by all the baptised to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord.
As part of our celebrations for Christian Unity Week in Clongowes, we were delighted to welcome staff and students from The King’s Hospital who joined us in the Sports’ Hall on Sunday. The Rector, Fr Michael Sheil celebrated Mass while the homily was delivered by Rev. Peter Campion, chaplain at The King’s Hospital. After Mass our visitors took lunch with us in the refectory.
Later in the evening staff and students from Clongowes returned the compliment when we visited The King’s Hospital for Evening Prayer. This is always a beautiful occasion and one in which there is a lot of effort given to making us feel welcome. We at Clongowes are always grateful to The King’s Hospital for their solidarity, compassion and generosity to our school with their time and effort and look forward to meeting them again next Sunday. Sincere thanks to all involved in making this event meaningful and very enjoyable.
‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’
John 17: 20-26
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