By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
“In a country like Canada where we exercise many religious freedoms and seldom encounter religious persecution it is difficult to imagine that today over 327 million Christians are in danger because they have professed a faith in Christ,” said Myron Rogal of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon at a Red Wednesday prayer service Nov. 19.
Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church co-hosted the Saskatoon Red Wednesday event with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
“Tonight, we are in solidarity with a persecuted church — a church that continues to draw strength and grow from the seeds of the martyrs,” said Rogal, diocesan coordinator of Justice and Peace, who was MC for the Red Wednesday event.
Bishop Jakob Palm and the congregation at Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church co-hosted the prayerful revent at their church on Alexandra Avenue in Saskatoon, which was bathed in red light to mark the day of prayer and remembrance. Fr. Joseph Salihu, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon and the bishop’s delegate for ecumenism, attended as the representative of Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic diocese.
“The situation overall is not improving,” reported Rogal. “In 2024 according to the Religious Freedom Report of the 62 countries where religious persecution is frequently reported only two countries — Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan — showed improvements. Even within the western world we see a resurgence in Mexico with the killing of religious leaders and growing Christian persecutions in Russia amongst particular denominations.”
He added: “Let us not forget that individuals of other faiths also face ongoing persecutions” while noting that globally Christians represent 75 per cent of those who are being persecuted for their faith.
MC Myron Rogal of the Justice and Peace Office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon was MC for the ecumenical prayer service held on Red Wednesday in Saskatoon (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Rogal described how Red Wednesday began in 2015, launched by Aid to the Church in Need, a not-for-profit organization that provides pastoral and humanitarian assistance to persecuted Christians around the world.
“In Canada we are one of 63 registered events with a high number taking place in Quebec and the Calgary area,” he said. “You are part of the only Red Wednesday service in the province and the only registered ecumenical one in Canada.”
He urged those in attendance to continue to pray and advocate for persecuted Christians. “Each of you here are part of a growing network praying for, learning about and entering into solidarity with one of the most under-reported tragedies of our time.”
The prayer service included scripture, hymns, and reflections about persecuted Christian communities by Evangelical Orthodox Bishop Jakob Palm and by recently-arrived Catholic priest from Nigeria, Fr. Michael Magaji, who is serving as parochial vicar (associate pastor) at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon.
Those present were invited to light a candle in memory of Christians suffering persecution, violence, and death around the world.
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Proclaiming the first reading at the ecumenical service Nov. 19. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Carol Zubiak of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon Justice and Peace Commission leads the Psalm refrain during the Red Wednesday ecumenical prayer service Nov. 19 in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Fr. Joseph Salihu proclaims the Gospel during the prayer service, representing Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Bishop Jakob Palm of Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church shared information about Christian persecution in Africa. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Fr. Michael Magaji spoke about his personal experience of Christian persecution affecting parishioners and communities in Nigeria. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.
Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.