Steubenville holds “Preach Out” to celebrate Christian unity

Steubenville, Ohio, Jan 18, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Students, Faculty, and community leaders will gather tomorrow night at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Christ the King Chapel in Ohio in recognition of the Holy Father’s call for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The University will hold its 15th annual “Preach Out”, started in 1990 by then president Fr. Michael Scanlon T.O.R. where, according to the University, “religious leaders from three branches of Christianity will share the same microphone.”

According to Tom Sofio, director of public relations for Franciscan University, “Each year the pastors are asked to speak on a theme related to Christian unity.  This year they will preach on "ways to build up unity among Christians" based on Psalm 36, 5-9.”

The event echoes today’s papal audience in which John Paul II reminded Christians that, “the re-establishment of full unity among them, according to Jesus' will, involves all the baptized, both pastors and faithful."

Sofio commented that Fr. Scanlon, who is chancellor of the University as well as a renowned speaker and author would again be preaching and representing the Catholic Church.

Fr. Scanlon will preach along side the Reverend D’Wain O. Wales of Quinn AME Church in Steubenville, and Bruce Hitchcock, director of the Urban Mission.

Music, according to the University will be by the Voices of Praise Gospel Choir and the Franciscan University Festival of Praise Music Ministry.

Sofio added that students at the University “respond enthusiastically to the evening.”