This week’s service has been prepared by the brothers and sisters of the Community in Montagnieu (France).
Reflection text
Father, That they may be one
Excerpt from the preface to the latest book by the Dombes Group, Father, That they may be one. From division to unity, Cerf, 2026.
Are you one of those who wonder what is the point of praying for the unity of the Christian churches, when so many other concerns weigh heavily on us in these times of global transformation, with their share of anxieties and new divisions? In the increasingly deteriorating political context of the last three years, with extremely serious situations involving innocent deaths, doesn’t this prayer seem like escapism?
Do you doubt whether churches can find enough courage to recognize each other and develop forms of communion? Or do you even think that unity risks becomng uniformity and that it would be enough to maintain simple bonds of solidarity and communication?
Our appeal stems from an acute awareness of the need to maintain intercession specifically together: for unity in such a divided world, a unity that for several decades has been affirmed as a “communion respectful of internal diversity”. Unity “in reconciled diversity,” therefore to be lived in common, with polyphonic voices, resisting through faith, hope, and love the temptations of division and inhumanity, by proposing an alternative horizon to that of walls and borders: bringing together praying individuals and communities from around the world in an “invisible monastery,” according to the image used by one of the pioneers of the Dombes Group, Father Paul Couturier.
Deliberately brief and concise, our plea follows on from the lengthy study that precedes it: ‘For all the nations… For the catholicity of the Churches, a call to make room for common life in Christ who is “all in all.”
The central thesis of this work, which states: “It is possible to affirm that the Catholic Church and the Churches of the Reformation form one single Church, albeit in imperfect communion (5533)”, encourages us to call for prayer to deepen and express this communion between our still-separated Churches in faithful commitment, on a journey of constantly renewed conversion to the heart of the faith, and to do this in the midst of the world’s divisions. This is where our priority and emphasis lie: the unity of the Churches is at the service of the unity of the world..
Intercessions
To be adapted or modified according to the place and circumstance
Lord, we give you thanks for the work of the Dombes Group, whose members, theologians from different churches, have been meeting every year for nearly 90 years to reflect and pray together. We bless you for their latest book, a plea for prayer for Christian unity, which urges us to allow ourselves to be renewed and challenged in our calling.
We entrust the work of this group to you and ask you for the grace of acceptance in all our churches and local communities for a profound conversion and a true renewal of our commitment today.
Each year the Siloé Centre in Montagnieu (France, Isère) continues to welcome for varying lengths of time people seeking restoration and inner unity. The Siloé Session is also welcoming around thirty retreatants this year.
Lord, we entrust all these people to you on their journey through life, and we entrust the Siloé mission to you in all our countries.
On December 13 and 14, the Siloé Centre in Montagnieu hosted the Unbound weekend retreat with brothers and sisters from the Community and Communion of Chemin Neuf. Lord, we bless you for your work in our lives and for the truth of your love that sets us free.
Lord, may the fruit of freedom in each person’s life shine ever more brightly in our lives as we follow you together as missionary disciples, continuing to proclaim together the good news of your Kingdom.
As it does every year, the NGO Open Doors published its report in January on Christians persecuted around the world. Today, 388 million Christians are exposed to severe persecution and discrimination because of their faith, representing one in seven Christians worldwide.
Lord, we pray for all those who risk their lives every day in your name, for greater freedom, justice, and peace. We pray especially for the Catholic Church in Mexico, where several priests have recently been murdered.
Prayer for Christian unity
Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one,
we pray to you for the unity of Christians,
according to your will,
according to your means.
May your Spirit enable us
to experience the suffering caused by division,
to see our sin
and to hope beyond all hope.
Amen.
(Prayer written by members of the Chemin Neuf Community
inspired by a prayer of Father Paul Couturier)