An Ecumenical Prayer Vigil will take place on Saturday, 30 September, 2023 in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Pope Francis and representatives of different Christian Churches will attend the vigil. The vigil is intended to unite people in praise, silence, and listening to the Word. It is called “Together – Gathering of the People of God” during which the Catholic Church will entrust the work of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
Everyone is invited to the prayer vigil. The official two hour vigil will be from 5 to 7 pm Rome time. The prayer vigil will be livestreamed through Vatican Media and other networks. It would be good if we all joined together to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
For those who want to be physically present in Rome:
Young people between 18 and 35 years old are invited to come to Rome from Friday evening to Sunday midday and will be hosted by the parishes and Christian communities of the city.
Teenagers between 15 and 18 years old can come under the responsibility of their leaders, and they will have to find their own accommodation.
Older people are also invited to participate on the day and should organize their own accommodation.
The provisional program for day visitors, including teenagers coming with leaders.
Link: https://together2023.net/info-page/provisional-programme-full/
If you cannot come to Rome, there are other ways of participating, for example, by organizing a prayer vigil in your own locality on Saturday, September 30 in solidarity and communion with those who will gather in Rome and by taking part in the different stages of preparation. See the page on Prayers elsewhere and the section “How can we prepare?”
Background:
On Sunday 15 January, 2023 in Rome, at the end of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis announced that the work of the next assembly of the Synod of the Roman Catholic Church will be preceded by an ecumenical prayer vigil on Saturday, 30 September, 2023 on St. Peter’s Square, Rome:
“The path to Christian unity and the path of synodal conversion of the Church are linked. I would like to take this opportunity to announce that on Saturday 30 September, 2023 an ecumenical prayer vigil will be held on St. Peter’s Square, with which we will entrust the work of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. For the young people coming to the vigil, there will be a special program throughout that weekend, entrusted to the Taizé community. As of now, I invite brothers and sisters of all Christian denominations to participate in this “Gathering of the People of God.”
To join this gathering, click here: https://zoom.us/j/2429500175: Password is spirit.
Here are the corresponding times for this gathering:
San Francisco (USA – California) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 8:00:00 am PST UTC-8 hrs
Chicago (USA – Illinois) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 10:00:00 noon CST UTC-6 hours
New York (USA – New York) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 11:00:00 am EST UTC-5 hours
Mexico City (Mexico) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 10:00:00 am CST UTC-6 hours
Sao Paulo (Brazil) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 2:00:00 pm BRT UTC-3 hours
Karachi (Pakistan – Sindh) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 8:00:00 pm PKT UTC+5 hours
Nairobi (Kenya) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 6:00:00 pm EAT UTC+3 hours
Dublin (Ireland)/ London (UK) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 4:00:00 pm GMT UTC+1 hours
Paris (France) Edinburgh (Scotland)
Netherlands (Holland), Rome, Italy Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 5:00 pm CET UTC+2 hrs
Mumbai (India) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 18:30:00 pm NZDT IST UTC+5:30 hours
Auckland (New Zealand) Sunday, Oct 1, 2023 at 3:00:00 am NZDT UTC+13 hours
Sydney (Australia) Sunday, Oct 1, 2023 at 1:00:00 am AEDT UTC+11 hours
Adelaide (Australia) Sunday, Oct 1, at 12:30 am ACST UTC +10.5 hours
Corresponding UTC (GMT) Thursday Sept. 30, 2023 at 16:00:00
Sorry about the time in Australia, but to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it might be worth getting up in the middle of the night.
Still time to join in the Spirit Unbounded event taking place virtually online and physically in Rome Italy and Bristol UK
To join click on https://spiritunbounded.org/event
All of us working with Root & Branch are thrilled that Dr. Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland and Canon Lawyer, Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister, one of the world’s foremost spiritual speakers and writers, and Steven Newcomb, Shawnee-Lenape author of ‘Pagans in the Promised Land’ and scholar of the Doctrine of Discovery/Domination will headline live for us in Rome and Bristol.
SR JOAN CHITTISTER
Sr Joan Chittister, OSB, is one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. For over 50 years she has passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and monastic and church renewal.
A Benedictine sister of Lake Erie, she is an international lecturer and award-winning author of 60 books. An articulate social analyst and influential religious leader, she is courageous, passionate, and a much sought-after speaker, commentator, counsellor and clear voice across all religions.
DR MARY MCALEESE
Dr Mary McAleese was two term President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. The theme of her presidency was Building Bridges and working for peace and reconciliation. She is a leading critic of Catholic Church teaching on among other things, women, homosexuality, Church members’ human rights, children’s rights, corporal punishment, church governance and episcopal accountability. Broadcaster and academic lawyer, she has a licentiate and doctorate in Canon Law.
STEVEN NEWCOMB
Steven T. Newcomb (Shawnee, Lenape) is a scholar, educator, author and film producer focusing on inter-generational trauma, cultural survival. Newcomb is co-founder and director of the Indigenous Law Institute and director of Original Nations Advocates. He is internationally recognized for his more than three decades of research and writing on the Vatican papal bulls of the fifteenth century. His primary focus is the theological doctrine now commonly known as the Doctrine of Christian Discovery and Domination.
To watch the trailer, click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WLbhk9OjMk. To purchase your virtual or physical tickets, click on https://www.gr8events.ie/sales/index.php?event=1361.
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When you make a donation to support our cause, you join with others who are investing in restoring our Church to what Jesus intended. If you are part of the movement to stop contributing to your local parish and/or diocese, you may want to take advantage of the end-of-year tax deductions by contributing to CCRI in its stead. The dollars we receive are used to run our programs and to reach a broad spectrum of the People of God. We are focused on reaching out to the Faithful, reform activists, young adults as well as those who feel abandoned by the Church, to mention just a few. Your personal contributions in offering your suggestions and your donations are most appreciated.
We have a good grasp of what we’re up against while still trusting the Spirit to guide this synodal process. Looking forward to coming together with all of you and those to whom you extend an invitation.
On behalf of the CCRI Strategy Team,
Rene Reid
CCRI director
