The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity grew from small beginnings in 1908. Today, Christians of all denominations join in praying for unity according to God’s will. They pray for grace to let go of prejudices, enter dialogue and get acquainted beyond superficial ideas about different denominations, so that hearts and minds might be united in Christ.
     The Second Vatican Council, from its inception, was mindful of the call to unity. Making this “one of the principal concerns” of the Council, the fathers noted, in the Decree on Ecumenism, that division among Christians “scandalizes the world, and damages that most holy cause, the preaching of the Gospel to every creature” (1). “The concern for restoring unity involves the whole Church,” they stated. “It extends to everyone, according to the talent of each” (5).
     Here at the Abbey we are mindful of the small steps each of us can and must take, if there is to be union among Christ’s faithful. To this end, each year we observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with special intercessions at Morning Prayer every day, and with one Mass celebrated with Christian Unity as the theme and focus. Observance this year will be January 18-25, 2007.
     We have found the Liturgy of the Hours to be a good bridge between Christians, as this prayer form predates divisions, and its content is primarily Scripture. The focus is praise, petition and thanksgiving, aspects of every Christian’s prayer. We invite Christians of all denominations to pray with us the Liturgy of the Hours. Our hosting of retreats for many groups and denominations opens opportunities for mutual understanding and appreciation. We seek, in the spirit of Saint Benedict, to welcome everyone as Christ.
Ecumenical Oblate Community
     Our Oblate program allows people of various denominations to make formal affiliation with us, to share in our spiritual exercises and to journey toward God with the help of Saint Benedict’s time-proven instruction.
     Rev. Robert Canen, husband, father of three children and pastor of Glendive Evangelical Church, Glendive, MT, is a Benedictine Oblate of Assumption Abbey. Robert was introduced to Assumption Abbey through a close friend. He visited us, learned of our Oblate program and was drawn to join. Rev. Canen lives his oblation through prayer, meditation and study. Each day, he studies and lives under the Rule of St. Benedict and practices lectio divina. This has strengthened his already rich relationship with God.
     Trudy and Joe Vincent, sister and brother-in-law of our Fr. Robert West, became oblates in 1982. They have faithfully prayed the Divine Office ever since, at their home in Kennewick, WA. They have served in their home parish as Eucharistic Ministers for thirty years. Today, they continue leading the rosary at two nursing homes and, when needed, bring Communion to the home-bound, as well as those in the local hospital and nursing homes. They also lead a small Benedictine Oblate fellowship group.
     Just as surely as God called us monks of Assumption Abbey to live the monastic life here, He is calling mothers, fathers, Protestant ministers, students, diocesan priests and many others to become Benedictine Oblates of Assumption Abbey, furthering Christian Unity as a result.
     
     Pray with us for the unity of all Christians according to God’s will.

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