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April 22, 2021“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (1 Peter 4:14).
Millions of Christians around the world suffer and are targeted because of their faith. According to Open Doors, a non-profit organization that supports persecuted believers in more than 60 countries, in just the past year (2021 World Watch List reported) there have been:
n More than 340 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination:
n 4,761 Christians killed for their faith;
n 4,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked;
n 4,277 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned.
Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawton decided to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East and Africa as their annual Lenten project through their Spiritual Life Committee. A second collection was taken at the end of Mass during the five weeks of Lent. The parish also added a donation box and prayer cards at their display in the narthex with envelopes designated for persecuted Christians. The church raised more than $11,000.
“We used white lettering for contrast and to capture attention,” said Betty Cerrone, director of the project. “The board had photos of people affected by persecutions, church buildings, religious statues and art destroyed by terror, and a world map of the areas around the world affected by Christian persecution.”
“There were 13 white crosses on the board indicating the number of lives affected daily somewhere in the world. In front of the poster, we had a vase that held a white rose and a votive candle. There was also “rubble,” bricks and debris from a neighbor’s yard to represent the destroyed churches.”
She added there were prayer cards and brochures available through the Knights of Columbus on the table along with the donation box and envelopes.
“Based on the number of parishioners and visitors who we observed visiting the display, the number of brochures and cards that needed to be replenished and the donations put into the box, I would say the display drew a lot of attention, prayers and donations,” she said.
Father Phil Seeton also shared information about the project during Mass.
“After communion, Father Phil would take time to tell of a particular situation or event that had happened that week in these regions,” Cerrone said. “These things, together with Father Phil’s weekly reflections, helped our parish be of one heart and mind with all fellow Christians experiencing discrimination and persecution for our Christian beliefs.”
The donations were sent to the Knights of Columbus International organization, specifically for these areas of Christian persecution.
Jolene Schonchin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
