WCC NEWS: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2027 resources available worldwide

Churches and Christian communities worldwide are invited to use the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2027 resources to prepare for joint prayers for Christian unity in January and throughout the year. Flock of sheep in County Donegal, Ireland. Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth 18 June 2026 The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2027 is: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Resources are now available online in English, German, French, and Italian, with additional language versions coming soon. The prayers and reflections for 2027 were prepared by the Irish Council of Churches and the Council for Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The resources are jointly published by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches (WCC). Drawing on Luke 12:22-34 and the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd, the materials invite Christians to move beyond fear towards radical trust, vigilant hope, and responsible service. They encourage churches to consider how letting go of fear and keeping watchful hearts can become catalysts for reconciliation, cooperation, and shared Christian witness. The theme speaks to Christians as a “little flock” called to live, pray, and work together. It also reflects the contemporary experience of the churches in Ireland, where changing social circumstances offer new opportunities for reflection, renewal, and reconciliation. The materials emphasize that Christian unity is not uniformity, but a shared journey marked by deep listening, humble witness, and mutual care. They invite churches to demonstrate the values of God’s kingdom through hospitality, forgiveness, diakonia, and common service to people and communities in need. The resources include an ecumenical worship service, biblical reflections, and prayers for the eight days, suggestions for hymns and songs, and an overview of the ecumenical situation in Ireland today. The worship service incorporates elements of Ireland’s Christian heritage, including the Celtic Cross and texts associated with Saint Patrick and other Irish saints. The traditional period for observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the northern hemisphere is 18-25 January. In the southern hemisphere churches frequently choose time around Pentecost, which is also symbolic of the unity of the church. Churches are also invited to translate the materials into additional languages and contextualize or adapt them for local use. Mindful of the need for flexibility, organizers invite churches and Christian communities to adapt the resources to their local contexts and use them throughout the year, expressing the communion already shared among Christians and praying for the full visible unity of the church. Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2027 Learn more about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland