Bangladesh Church prays for Christian Unity

Bangladesh's Dhaka archdiocese joined Christians worldwide to pray for ecumenical unity. Dhaka archdiocese held an ecumenical prayer service at Tejgaon Holy Rosary Church to mark the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity' on January 19.

Archbishop Bejoy N. D' Cruze, OMI, of Dhaka called for Christian unity. The archdiocese celebrated the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity in Tejgaon, Mirpur and  Savar with different Christian denominations.

The Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue (ECCUID) printed the Unity Octave 8 day Prayer Booklet, which contains prayer services based on the theme for 2022: We have seen His rising star and we have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).

"The booklet is promoted in print and audio-visual formats on the Pratibeshi Weekly and online channel," said Father Patrick Gomes, the secretary of ECCUID.

"In the church, we celebrate Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity every January 18-25. And during this time, we especially pray for the churches to unite and unite in themselves so that Christian vision may be established within us," said Archbishop D'Cruze in a video message on the Pratibeshi channel.

Archbishop Bejoy added, "By receiving the holy sacrament of Baptism we all are united as brothers and sisters and we are disciples of Jesus and that bond will never break or separate."

In his message, Archbishop Bejoy pointed out the need for inter-Church union, saying that "we all can pray together so that Jesus' desire might be fulfilled."

Father Patrick Gomes, the secretary of the above-stated Commission, shared a  reflection on the theme of this year's Unity Octave and a general historical background of this Unity Octave prayer.