Friday, January 16th 2026 Established 1905 27 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, Guyana Year 121, No. 2
800th anniversary of St Francis’ death
A hunter's moon rises behind a statue of St. Francis of Assisi on the grounds of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wis., USA, Oct 8, 2022. (OSV News photo/Sam Lucero, CNS)
(OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee Year coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, issued a decree published by the Franciscan Friars Jan. 10, declaring a yearlong celebration in honor of the Poverello, or the Little Poor One. According to the decree, Pope Leo has established that from Jan. 10, following the closing of the church’s Jubilee Year, until Jan. 10, 2027, a special Year of St. Francis may be proclaimed, in which every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.” (please turn to page 10)
Diocesan Youth Coordinator appointed - p2 Prayer for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - p2 For Pope Leo XIV, Christian unity is not just an ideal, but an imperative - p2 Pope warns diplomats of rising global violence - p3 Pope delivers fierce defence of the unborn - p3 A Christian Perspective on Social Issues - p4 Sunday Scripture - p5 Vatican completes official mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV for papal basilica - p6 Pope’s January prayer intention: For prayer with the Word of God - p7 Bicentenary and Centenary of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - p8 Children’s Page - p9 God speaks to the faithful; take time to listen every day, pope says - p11 Survivors praise pope’s words that not welcoming abuse victims is ‘scandal’ - p12 More than 388 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution - p13 South Rupununi Church leaders meet - p14
Week of Prayer for Christian
(ICN) - This year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity takes place from Sunday January 18 to Sun. Jan. 25. The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for 2026: One hope, one calling' - comes from Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4:4). In a world with diverse and often divided traditions and expressions of Christian faith, Ephesians 4:4 reminds us that all believers are part of the "one body" of Christ. "Let us embrace this divine calling to unity, not as an abstract ideal but as a vital expression of our faith," invites the theme of this year. "By living in unity, we not
only witness to the love and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also embody the essence of His teachings." For the year 2026, the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were prepared by the Inter-Church Relations Department of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches. The resources are jointly published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches (WCC). Enabling millions of Christians around the world to join the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, its resources are available also on the Bible App by YouVersion, offering a
daily Bible reading plan, prayers, and questions for reflection for the eight days from 18 to 25 January. "In many corners of our world, hope is fast fading in the face of unprecedented suffering," notes Rev Dr Mikie Roberts, WCC programme executive for Spiritual Life and Faith and Order. "It is in such times that our collective payers for Christian unity can serve as a beacon of hope to many. When Christians are united in prayer, we also acknowledge the oneness in our calling to bear witness to the Gospel of Christ." Besides the translations offered by organizers in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic, churches are invited to translate the text in additional languages and contextualize or adapt it for their own use. Mindful of the need for flexibility, organizers of the Week of Prayer invite everyone to use this material to pray together for the unity among churches throughout the year. ❖ For more information and resources see: www.oikoumene.org/ resources/week-of-prayer-forchristian-unity
Bishop’s Engagements Sunday January 18th 08:00hrs – Mass at Sacred Heart, Main Street 09:30hrs – Retreat for Implementation of Synod Team 17:00hrs – Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam Tuesday January 20th 16:00hrs – Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting.
Francis Alleyne OSB