Cardinal O'Malley and other local faith leaders will preside at a worship and blessing service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at 2 p.m. The event will conclude with a mission and volunteer reception where participants can engage with various organizations in their ministries.

"For the first time in this region's history, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will reflect the face of the new global Christianity," explained Dr. Vito Nicastro, associate director of the archdiocese's Office of Ecumenical Affairs. "This event will join Asian, Pentecostal, Black, and Oriental Orthodox churches alongside the Evangelical and Mainline Protestants, Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, in countless variations, and on a new scale. Together, we will provide the tinder for God to spark a new local prayer movement drawing us closer to Christ and to each other."

Bishop Arthur Kennedy, director of the archdiocese's Office of Ecumenical Affairs commented, "The unity of the Church has its basis in the unity of the Holy Trinity. That unity is both given and revealed to us through Jesus Christ who grants us a share in this bond through His establishment of the Church. It is that Church for which He prays in the Gospel of John 17:21: 'I pray that they may all be me, as you Father are in me and I in you... that the world may believe that you sent me.'"

Kelly Steinhaus, executive director of UniteBoston, the organization that created the local, week-long programming said, "We build relational connections through our events to show a more unified testimony to the strength of God's love for every person. As Christians identifying with many different denominations, we can better serve our city together with dialogue around our common beliefs and values."

The event is free and open to the public. Lunch is $8 and free for those under the age of 35. Holy Name Church is located at 1689 Centre Street in the West Roxbury neighborhood of the City of Boston. Parking is available and the church may be accessed via the MBTA. Take the 38 Bus from the Orange Line Forest Hills Station to Wren Street via Centre Street.

More information on the event is available at www.uniteboston.com/wpcu/.