The Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs (ECEA) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) have jointly opened the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025.
On January 16, 2025, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Quezon City, Diocese of Cubao, hosted the opening ceremony.
The event brought together leaders from various Christian denominations, marking a shared commitment to unity and prayer.
Bishop Mel Rey Uy of the Diocese of Lucena, who also serves as the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs, represented the CBCP.
Bishop Elias L. Ayuban, Jr., CMF, of the Diocese of Cubao, welcomed the ecumenical assembly and delivered a message emphasizing the importance of unity among Christians during the opening prayer service.
“Pope Francis often speaks of the ecumenism blood, noting that Christians of all denominations are persecuted across the globe for their faith,” Bishop Ayuban said. “This shared offering calls us to solidarity and reminds us of our common mission—prayer, dialogue, action and unity.
Reflecting on the theme, “Do you believe this?” the prelate, drawing from John 11:26, encouraged attendees to deepen their faith and solidarity. “A movement from doubt to faith, from isolation to communion, from indifference to relativity— that is our call. Let us, like Thomas, proclaim, ‘Yes, Lord, we believe,’” he added.
The week-long celebration from January 16 to 24, 2025, will include ecumenical worship services hosted by various churches across Metro Manila.
Each day offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the shared faith and history of the Christian community.
This year’s celebration coincides with the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, a milestone underscoring the enduring call for Christian unity.
Highlighted venues for the Week of Prayer include:
January 17: United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Quezon City
January 18: Youth-led activities at Tandang Sora IEMELIF Church and San Vicente de Paul Parish
January 20: Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral, Manila
January 21: Episcopal Church of the Philippines, Quezon City
January 22: Central United Methodist Church, Manila
January 23: Apostolic Catholic Church, Quezon City
January 24: Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Manila
CBCP-ECEA and NCCP encourage churches and communities outside of Metro Manila to organize local celebrations and offer support for these initiatives.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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