The Irish Bishops are urging parishes to light up cathedrals and churches in red to mark the upcoming ‘Red Wednesday’ that highlights the persecution of Christians worldwide.

Wednesday, 22 November, has been set aside by the Pontifical charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), as a day of prayer and remembrance for Christians suffering for their faith.

The Irish Bishops recently said, “The continuing persecution of Christians in so many parts of the world is a reason for Irish people to take steps to show solidarity with them through prayer, the sharing of information, and to advocate for them with politicians and the wider community.”

ACN is a Catholic charity established in 1947 to help serve suffering and persecuted Christians around the world who are in material need as a result of discrimination and oppression. One of the initiatives of ACN Ireland is ‘Red Wednesday’, which this year falls on 22 November. Red Wednesday occurs in the middle of a week of witness and prayer for persecuted Christians across the world, including prayer vigils on the day itself.