Ecumenical & Interreligious Relations Ministry

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

(Acts 2:42)

It is the function of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations to foster ecumenical work on behalf of the diocese for the purpose of promoting Christian unity and to engage in interreligious dialogue with members of non-Christian religious communities in order to develop mutual affection and esteem so that human dignity and freedom may grow and flourish in the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Diocesan Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Members

• Deacon Dennis Demes, Ph.D., Diocese of Palm Beach, Chair 
• Monsignor Leonard F. Badia, Ph.D.
• Deacon Gerald Bott, Holy Family Catholic Church, Port Saint Lucie
• Sr. Roberta Popara, OP, Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center
• Lynn Powell, Diocese of Palm Beach 

 Prayer of Christian Unity

On January 18 - 25, 2013, Christian Churches throughout the world will join in prayer asking the Lord to restore oneness to the Christian community. This oneness was ruptured at various times during the history of the Church, most notably in 1054 when Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians severed the bonds of unity and then again in 1517 when protests over ecclesiastical abuses led to the fragmentation of western Christendom. Thankfully, most of the acrimony of the past is behind us, and Christians are more and more yearning for doctrinal unity and pastoral charity among all believers. To this end, the Graymoor Ecumenical Institute inaugurated the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which is entering its 105th year in 2013.

The Diocese of Palm Beach welcomes and encourages dialogue with fellow believers in Jesus Christ and is ready and willing to share in common prayer and worship insofar as our confessions allow. All Churches and ecclesial communities that wish to explore ways to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2013 with the Catholic community of Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties are invited to contact Deacon Dennis Demes or Lynn Powell at the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations.

2013 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sunday, January 20

St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Vero Beach (Host), St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Holy Cross Catholic Church, St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, St. Helen Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Living Lord Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church, St. Lucie Catholic Church, 3:30 PM “Unity Prayer Service”

St. Mark Episcopal Church in Palm Beach Gardens (Host), Oceanview United Methodist Church, St. George Episcopal Church, Tropical Sands Church, Christ Evangelical Baptist Church, Gardens Presbyterian Church, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 3:00 PM “Unity Prayer Service”

Tuesday, January 22
St. David in the Pines Episcopal Church in Wellington (Host), St. Rita Catholic Church, Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, St. Therese de Lisieux Catholic Church, 7:00 PM “Unity Prayer Service”

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Boca Raton (Host), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, The Hammock Street Presbyterian Church, 7:00 PM “Unity Prayer Service”

Thursday, January 24
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Tequesta (Host), First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta & Jupiter, St. Jude Catholic Church, St. Peter Catholic Church, First Methodist of Jupiter & Tequesta, 7:00 PM “Unity Prayer Service”

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton (Host)
6:30 PM “Unity Prayer Service”

Saturday, January 26
St. Ann Catholic Church in West Palm Beach(Host), St. Patrick Episcopal Church, St. John Fisher Catholic Church, Christ Evangelical Baptist Church, 11:00 AM “Unity Prayer Service”

 Click here to view pdf of the above schedule.

 Click here to view suggested petitions for this week.