Each year, from the 18th to the 25th January, all around the world, Christians of many traditions unite to pray together and seek unity between all the churches
In doing so, they associate themselves with the prayer of Jesus to the Father: "That they may be one as we are one." (John 17:22)
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which originated in the Anglican church, was promoted within the Roman Catholic Church by a Lyon priest, Paul Couturier.
Each Week of Prayer for Christian Unity focusses on a theme. In 2001, the theme was "With you is the fountain of life". This verse from Psalm 36 was chosen because it forcefully reminds Christians of the need to rediscover the place where the fountain of life is to be found - namely in God and in God's Holy Word.
The international organising group is appointed by the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
