Christian unity must be rooted in a shared oneness in Christ rather than in institutions or joint programs, a Catholic priest said at an ecumenical prayer gathering in Hong Kong marking the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Father Christophor Chor Yuk-wa made the remarks during an Ecumenical Prayer Evening held Jan. 24 at Ward Memorial Methodist Church, where Christians reflected on this year’s theme from Ephesians 4:4, “one body and one Spirit.”
“Unity does not mean forming an organization or simply joining efforts in an activity. Rather, it is about oneness in Christ,” Father Chor said in a report by Sunday Examiner, the official news service of the Diocese of Hong Kong.
The prayer evening drew leaders from multiple Christian denominations in Hong Kong, including Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, chairperson of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission; Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu, vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong; Anglican Archbishop Andrew Chan Au-ming; Lutheran Bishop Jackson Yeung Yau-chi; Father Dawoud Hanna of the Coptic Church; and leaders from other Christian traditions.
The event was co-organized by the Church Unity and Relations Committee of the Hong Kong Christian Council and the Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, with support from the Joint Ecumenical Working Team.
In his homily, Father Chor said the foundation of Christian unity is God himself. He cited the seven qualities named in Ephesians — one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God — saying they point to God as the centre and source of all creation.
“Through receiving the same Spirit, believers can transcend their divisions and become brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said.
He also described unity as an ongoing spiritual struggle that requires both the guidance of the Holy Spirit and personal commitment. He noted that Christians can become overly focused on external ministries while neglecting prayer and inner spiritual formation.
“Prayer is essential and requires intentional time,” Father Chor said.
“Christians are called to demonstrate resilience and hope through their lives, embodying the light of Christ in the face of division,” he added.
Following the homily, participants approached the altar one by one to receive a scarf bearing the words “You are called,” symbolizing a shared Christian mission. The evening concluded with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a joint blessing and commissioning.
This year’s unity theme was developed collaboratively by the Armenian Apostolic Church with Catholic and Evangelical communities. Armenia became a Christian nation in 301 AD, and its church endured repeated persecution, including during the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1916, when more than one million Armenians were killed.
Leading the liturgy, Father Aloysius Mak Ying-kin said the steadfast faith and martyrdom of the Armenian people continue to inspire Christians to preserve unity in times of trial.
Ecumenical activities continued across Hong Kong, including joint services, pulpit exchanges, and upcoming worship events scheduled through March.
