Prayer for Peace
We haven’t quite finished with the Christmas season just yet despite returning to the ordinary seasons of the year for the liturgical celebrations. This Sunday afternoon at 3pm the choirs will lead an Epiphany Carol Service in place of Choral Evening Prayer reflecting on the significance of the Epiphany Feast and in hope for peace in the troubled areas of our world on this day of Prayer for Peace and on the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4)
For this year, the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches. These resources draw upon centuries-old traditions of prayer and petitions used by the Armenian people, along with hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia, some of which date as far back as the fourth century. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 extends an invitation to draw upon this shared Christian heritage and to delve more deeply into our fellowship in Christ, which unites Christians worldwide. “Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Prince of Peace. Strengthen the bond of peace among us and in our troubled world. Disturb the hearts of all who would make war; touch the wounds of all who are afflicted by war. We pray especially for the people of Armenia and Artsakh, and their kindred throughout the world. Let the light of your love shine in all the dark places of our world, and hasten the day when all peoples may dwell in peace with justice. Amen” Daily prayers can be found on the ‘Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website’.
This coming Thursday 22nd January Liverpool Hope University will be holding their Winter Graduations in the Cathedral and will also be using the Crypt Halls for gowning and receptions. Throughout this week the midday mass at 12.15 will return to being celebrated in the Crypt apart from Thursday when it will be in the Blessed Sacrament before the general public are allowed in to the Cathedral for the afternoon graduations.
Our city centre deanery of parishes are due to have the 5 yearly Bishops Visitation in the next few months. As part of this we welcome Bishop Tom Neylon who will be celebrating most of the masses within the Cathedral and Crypt next Sunday and will visit the hospitals and primary school of St Nicholas on separate occasions. Also next Sunday we have our annual celebration of Joint Evening Prayer for the Week of Prayer of Christian Unity at 3pm. This year the service is at our Cathedral and we welcome the choir, clergy and parishioners from Liverpool Cathedral who will join us for this shared service. This year our guest preacher is Rev Yazid Said, who is an Anglican priest and lecturer in Islamic studies at Hope University.
Monsignor Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
