JOINT RALLY TO HIGHLIGHT UNITY WEEK

Special Services mark Octave of Prayer
Unprecedented enthusiasm
By JOHN HORGAN CATHOLICS throughout Britain today celebrate the open ing of the 1963 Chair of Unity Octave. Together with their separated Anglican, and Non-conformist brethren, they will be taking part in an eight-day crusade of prayer for unity, whose effect will be felt in every parish in the country.
In London on Sunday thousands will gather in Trafalgar Square to hear the Dean of Westminster, Rev. E. S. Abbott; the Administrator of Westminster Cathedral, Mgr. Gordon Wheeler; and the Minister of the Westminster Central Hall, Rev. Derrick Greaves, take part in an unprecedented unity rally organised by the inter-denominational Conference to Promote Prayer for Unity. (3 p.m.)
During the Octave, prayers will be offered for unity in every Catholic cathedral and parish church. A full series of meetings, lectures, discussion groups and meetings between Christians everywhere will accentuate the spirit of courtesy and charity which the Octave symbolises.
SURVEY
Many schools will light unity candles in their chapels, as a constant reminder of the prayers being offered by members of all denominations for Christian unity. Mr. Thomas Rittner, General Secretary of the Catholic Truth Society, reported that the Society had also "almost sold out" its printing of 500,000 copies of the Prayer for Unity. This figure is slightly down on last year's.
A CATHOLIC HERALD survey of diocesan plans for the unity octave this week revealed that priests in every diocese will be celebrating evening Mass this evening and next Friday evening. and many more will he celebrating Evening Mass for unity on every week-day during the Octave. Byzantine Rite Masses will be celebrated at the French Church in Leicester Square, London, and in St. Patrick's, Soho, during the week.
Special points from the dioceses were:
CARDIFF: Archbishop Murphy will be speaking at an interdenominational meeting at the Methodist Church, Conway Road. Cardiff, next Wednesday, and will also recite the Our Father at the meeting. Other speakers will include the Anglican Bishop of Llandaff, the Right Rev. Glyn Simons.
BIRMINGHAM: At the Town Hall on Tuesday, the Right Rev. W. A. E. Westall. Bishop of