Divinity School leads virtual prayer week

Divinity School leads virtual prayer week

Amid the pandemic, the Silliman University (SU) Divinity School leads the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with the ecumenical community of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental, which started January 18, 2021.

The series of daily prayers are held virtually via ZOOM and the official Facebook page of the Divinity School (https://www.facebook.com/sudscentennial2021) until Sunday, January 24.

The week-long prayers are done virtually due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the province.

Themed “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit,” this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reflects on the Gospel text from John Chapter 15 verses 5 to 9, wherein Jesus referred to himself as the vine and his followers as the branches.

Participating churches are as follows: United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Negros District Conference, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Diocese of Negros Oriental & Siquijor, and Roman Catholic (RC) Diocese of Dumaguete.

The Divinity School faculty, staff, and students who are now in their respective conferences and local churches will join the daily ecumenical prayers with the following organizations: Focolare Movement, Youth for a United World, Redemptorist Youth/Redemptorist Parish, St. Joseph Seminary College and Kabatan-onang Ekyumenikal sa Isla Negros ug Siquijor (KEINUS) – an ecumenical formation comprised of the Youth of the IFI and Christian Youth Fellowship from the nearby three conferences of the UCCP – Negros District Conference, Central Negros Associate Conference and North Negros Conference.

Here are the schedules of the daily prayers along with the assigned leaders:

  • January 18, 5:30 PM
    Iglesia Filipina Independiente
    Diocese of Negros Oriental & Siquijor
  • January 19, 5:30 PM
    United Church of Christ in the Philippines
    Negros District Conference
  • January 20, 10:00 AM
    Silliman University Divinity School
  • January 21, 6:00 PM
    Silliman University Church (via SU Church Facebook Page)
  • January 22, 5:30 PM
    Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete
    Focolare Movement and Redemptorist Parish/Youth
  • January 23, 5:30 PM
    Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete
    St. Joseph Seminary College
  • January 24, 5:30 PM
    Kabatan-onang Ekyumenikal sa Isla Negros ug Siquijor

 

Since 2019, the ecumenical community of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental has been holding this week-long Prayer for Christian Unity and the Divinity School has been actively participating in the said events.

This year, the Divinity School decided to make it a part of its series of activities lined-up for its centennial celebration.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is held annually worldwide to reaffirm the relationship among churches and to encourage dialogue and united prayer and action.

(Report by Klein F. Emperado, SU Divinity School Centennial 2021 special project staff; Poster Design by Dr. Kim G. Sarong)