MAKING THE BIBLE KNOWN

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 opened yesterday at the Bishop Moises F. Buzon Memorial Church of the Iglesia Unida Ekyumenikal. The event was organized by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), gathering church leaders from different Christian traditions for a time of prayer and fellowship.

The very first Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was observed in 1908, encouraging Christians to come together in prayer towards strengthening the harmony of the Church. Yesterday, the celebration was coordinated by the World Council of Churches, and was observed by many different Christian traditions around the globe.

Archbishop Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio of the Roman Catholic Church to the Philippines; Bishop Mel Rey Uy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs; and Ms. Minnie Anne Mata-Calub, General Secretary of the NCCP, shared words of welcome during the event. The service also included hymns of praise to God led by Rev. Jon Dave Angeles, Resident Pastor of the Deca Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF) Mission and Member of the Philippine Bible Society Board of Trustees.

In the homily, Bishop Justice Raoul V. Victorino (Ret.) of the Iglesia Unida Ekyumenikal, President Emeritus of the Philippine Bible Society,emphasized the call to Christian unity through the presence of Jesus. He reminded everyone that “no ministry is self-sufficient” and that the Church does not just exist for itself:

“The world does not need a perfect Church. The world needs a united Church.”

Representatives from the Philippine Bible Society were present, including General Secretary Ms. Laura Valledo and Deputy General Secretary for Ministry Operations Ptr. Marfeal Santiago, reaffirming PBS’s commitment to interconfessional relationships and to prayer.