Monday is Martin Luther King Day in the United States and a holiday for EWTN staff. Except for an appearance on “At Home with Jim and Joy,” I will be taking the day off but, as always, if there is big breaking news, I’ll be here!
VATICAN INSIDER: INSIDE AN AD LIMINA VISIT WITH ABP. NAUMANN
My guest this week in Vatican Insider’s interview segment is Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas. He talks to us about the ad limina visit in Rome of bishops from Regions 8 and 9 in the United States – why there are such visits, what bishops do when they are in Rome, how and where they celebrate morning Mass and much, much more, including some insight into their lengthy visits with Pope Francis. Some good stories about his time with the Holy Father! Not to miss!
Here is a photo of Bishop Naumann as he spoke to EWTN News Nightly after Mass Wednesday in the basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls:
By the way, you will also want to listen to the Q&A this week as I look at what materials can be used in chalices at Mass (some people may be surprised at the answer!)
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ECUMENICAL PILGRIMAGE AT START OF WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
(vaticannews) Friday morning, in addition to several private audiences, the Holy Father received a delegation from the Lutheran Church of Finland, in Rome for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. He highlighted the importance of journeying in communion of faith “so as to encourage one another and to strengthen one another in Christian discipleship.”
The group was in Rome as part of a customary ecumenical pilgrimage celebrating the feast of Saint Henrik, believed to have been an English-born Bishop of Uppsala who was martyred in the mid-12th century. He is venerated by Catholics and Lutherans, as well as several Protestant Churches and the Anglican Community.
In his remarks, the Pope looked ahead to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that begins on Saturday, January 18 on the theme “They showed us unusual kindness.” The words are those of the Apostle Paul, and refer “to the inhabitants of the island of Malta, who received him, together with hundreds of shipwrecked people, with hospitality,” said Francis.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity esch year prepares background information for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. For 2020, the council notes that, “the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which usually takes place from 18–25 January, in some parts of the world is celebrated at Pentecost.”
The council made available the texts for the 2020 Week of Prayer with a link: texts for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2020
These texts were prepared by the Christian Churches of Malta and Gozo, says the website, together with an international committee comprising representatives of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches.
On the theme “They showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2), the texts are based on the biblical passage describing the shipwreck of Saint Paul in Malta (Acts 27:18–28,10). This passage led the group to reflect on the trust of Saint Paul in divine providence and on the ecumenical virtue of hospitality. In the liturgy and reflections for the Week of Prayer, other themes are highlighted, including reconciliation, discernment, hope, trust, strength, hospitality, conversion and generosity.
Additional material is available on the website of the Archdiocese of Malta: http://thechurchinmalta.org/en/posts/325/ecumenical-commission.
For more on this pontifical council: http://www.christianunity.va
Joan's Rome 