SASKATOON, Sask. (CCN) — As part of their ongoing ecumenical covenant, members of Saskatoon’s Holy Spirit Catholic and McClure United Churches came together Nov. 26, 2025 for an ecumenical Pre-Advent Worship Service.
Hosted at McClure United Church, the service was “a moment of unity, prayer, and hope as we prepared our hearts for the coming of Christ,” said Astrid Alas, Adult Faith Coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, who serves on the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission that is chaired by Fr. Joseph Salihu, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish.
Four Advent themes of hope (Isaiah 40:3-5), peace (Isaiah 9:6-7), joy (Luke 2:8-14), and love (John 15:9-12) were proclaimed through scripture, prayer and song and the lighting of four candles on an advent wreath.
“It was a beautiful prayer service followed by refreshments and social.,” said Alas. “We pray that this season draws all of us deeper into peace, fellowship, and joyful anticipation.”
Another ecumenical undertaking in Advent has also been launched by the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism: a series of prayer services offered online via Zoom, led each week by a different local Christian leader representing various denominations. starting at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 2, Dec. 9, and Dec. 16. (For more information and registration, see: pcecumenism.ca/news-events.)
Further to the upcoming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity early in the New Year (Jan. 18-25) free resources are now available, focused on the 2026 theme: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Eph 4: 4).
A Canadian Week of Prayer for Christian Unity website at www.weekofprayer.ca is a joint project of the Canadian Council of Churches, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon, and the Centre canadien d’oecuménisme in Montreal. Resources for this year’s week of prayer are available at: LINK.
In Saskatchewan, the week of prayer will again include the De Margerie Series for Christian Reconciliation and Unity from Jan. 21 to 24, with sessions in both Regina and Saskatoon.
The series, named in honour of the late Fr. Bernard De Margerie who co-founded the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism (PCE), is presented by the PCE in partnership with St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon, Campion College in Regina, and the Catholic dioceses of Saskatoon and Regina.
The series guest speaker this year will be Dr. Jeremy Bergen, who will offer a two-lecture series titled “Christian Martyrdom and the Unity of the Church” as well as morning workshops in both Saskatoon and Regina.
Bergen is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo. He has written on church apologies, martyrdom, ecclesiology, ecumenism, the Holy Spirit, and Mennonite theology, and is currently completing a book on Christian martyrdom and the unity of the church for Baylor University Press.
