AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED
At St Joseph and St Margaret Clitherow as a parish we support the work of the charity Aid to the Church in Need. In the past we have run a Lenten campaign to support two youth projects in Zambia and the Phillipines and a successful appeal following a talk given by the Area Secretary of ACN. We have also held a prayer novena for Christians in Iraq.We regularly remember the persecuted Christians in our bidding prayers as well as in our private prayers.
The aim of the charity is to INFORM about the difficulties and persecutions being faced by Christians in the world, such as in Pakistan, Israel, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Russia and other countries; to PRAY for the faithful who are determined to serve the Lord even in the midst of suffering and violence; to SUSTAIN vulnerable Christian communities in countries by supporting key projects and supporting refugees. If you wish to find out more about the charity, which is a pontifical foundation of the Catholic church and a registered charity, you can: Go online www.acnuk.org You can in any case sign up online for a newsletter to be sent direct to your phone or facebook for up to the minute news and prayer appeals. As well as the latest news, you will find information on events you can attend in London or pilgrimages to an affected area, eg Egypt or the Holy Land and you can help by daily prayer and supporting the online shop, which stocks a range of cards, CDs and gifts. Or maybe you might like to make a donation for a mass to be offered by priests in poor and affected areas to support their work |
LIGHT A CANDLE for hope and peace in Syria
In response to the on-going suffering of the Christian community in Syria, including recent attacks and kidnappings, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriar ch, Gregori os III of Damascus has asked believers around the world to join him in prayer for peace in Syria and the Middle East.
He suggests that whe ther in our homes, our workplaces, our communities or our parishes, we light a candle every evening and recite the prayer below:
He su
Will you join us in prayer?
Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to Paul your apostle, in the sky above Damascus and who appeared to Ananias in his house;
Just as you gave them your love, power and peace, so we ask you, at their intercession, to save Syria from every evil.
We beseech you, through the intercession of your Mother, Mary ever-Virgin, to whom you never refused grace, to give us and your brothers and sisters in Syria the ability to help bring peace to this land, which you made the starting point of your light and love to the whole world.
May it become once more a land of peace, love, fellowship and stability and be a beacon to the entire world.
Mary, Mother of God Pray for Syria
St Paul, Pray for all Christians in the Middle East
Amen
Adapted from an original prayer by Patriarch Gregorios III, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Damascus, Syria