Dear Ecumenical Friend,

The theme of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which will take place from January 18th -25th, is "Abide in my love, you shall bear much fruit." (John,15).

This year, because of the pandemic, our commemoration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place in a slightly different manner. Our Ecumenical Service of Prayer to which you have been invited over the years will be conducted virtually. The Service will be broadcast on Tuesday, January 19th at 12:10pm. on Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton. At the same time, it will also be made available on the Diocese of Scranton website and through Diocesan social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram). The Reverend Russell McDougall, C.S.C., rector of the Holy Cross Community at King's College and former rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem will serve as homilist.

I invited you and the members of all your congregations to join with me during this time of prayer, reflections and praise.

With deep gratitude for your efforts to work for the unity that Christ desires every day, I am Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L. Bishop of Scranton