Please join the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church for a

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service

in observation of the 2025 Week of Prayer

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
4 PM Eastern

Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church
24 Fair St.
Cold Spring, NY 10516

Fr. Emil Tomaskovic, SA
Minister General, Preacher

The 2025 theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “Do you believe?” (John 11:26): the theme honors the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, at which the question of common belief was upheld as a paramount pillar for church integrity, while also drawing us into the gospel episode of the resurrection of Lazarus, offering a promise of hope in times of communal fragmentation and death-dealing power. For more information about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the 2025 theme, or materials to aid in observing the WPCU in your home community, visit geii.org/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity.

“It is my hope that you will join us for these opportunities to pray, in the spirit of our Founders, that Christ’s prayer ‘That all may be one’ will be realized.” – V. Rev. Fr. Emil Tomaskovic

Daily Scripture and Prayer Guide

Day 4 – The Paschal Mystery: The Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Scripture Readings
Exodus 3:7-8
Psalm 16:5, 7, 10-11
Philippians 2:5-11

Meditation

God the Father was very merciful: he sent his creative Word who, in coming to deliver us, came to the very place and spot in which we had lost life, and broke the bonds of our fetters. His light appeared and made the darkness of the prison disappear and hallowed our birth and destroyed death, loosing those same fetters in which we were enchained. – Irenaeus of Lyon (c.135-198), Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, 38.

We know that we will all die. How does belief in Jesus destroying death change the way we approach this reality? “God lets himself be pushed out of the world on to the cross. He is weak and powerless in the world, and that is precisely the way, the only way, in which he is with us and helps us.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

As the Risen One, Jesus is with us until the end of time. In what ways does his companionship encourage you in your daily life?

Prayer

Lord our God, glorifying your Son Jesus, you have freed us from death. Through his resurrection, awaken our slumbering hearts, enlighten all who seek you and make the morning star shine upon us, Jesus Christ, the Living One, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

For more daily prayers visit the Daily Scripture and Prayer Guide at geii.org.