Marawi Bishop: Recall Christian martyrs’ struggles, vow to end persecution
Bishop Prelature of Marawi on Wednesday appealed to Filipino Christians to recall the struggles of the persecuted Christians worldwide.
The public usually neglected their struggles, Bishop Edwin de la Peña said in his homily at the Eucharistic celebration of “Red Wednesday” campaign at the Manila Cathedral.
“They are not only persecuted, but often times, forgotten. Maybe because their faith is not reported in the news,” he said.
Parishioners at the Manila Cathedral participate in the candle lighting ceremony after the Holy Mass for the persecuted Christians. Photo by Ma. Agatha Nicole T. Fabricante.
De la Peña said Filipino Christians must strive to uphold the power of faith to help end Christian persecution.
“For the first time in the Philippines, we vow to make an effort to stop the persecution by the power of the Gospel, God’s love, mercy, and compassion,” he said.
“Ensure that they will no longer be forgotten through our prayers and through spiritual and corporal works of mercy suggested to us by Pope Francis,” he added.
De la Peña said the campaign should open the minds of Filipino Christians about the severity of the worldwide Christian persecution and discrimination of religion.
“Let our coming together today ignite a lively responsive faith from the Church in the Philippines to bring for the plight of persecuted Christians and to generate spiritual and material health for the victims of violence and hatred against religion,” he said.
De la Peña mentioned the data saying that 90,000 Christians died as martyrs in 2016 and half a million who were not given the freedom to practice their faith.
Archbishop Gabriel Giordano Caccia, newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio of the Philippines, served as the Mass's main celebrant, while de la Peña was the homilist.
The Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) organized the first Red Wednesday in the Philippines to commemorate persecuted Christians around the world which was celebrated in 41 cathedrals, 21 basilicas and national shrines, and three Catholic universities in the Philippines.
Christian solidarity after Marawi siege
De la Peña said people of Marawi were alarmed about the siege that lasted for five months, causing huge destruction.
“We are used to violence sometimes in the prelature [...] but the siege of Marawi took five long months and the destruction of the city is almost similar to the destruction of Mosul in Iraq,” he said. “It is 80 percent destroyed.”
The prelature of Marawi established the “Duyog Marawi” program, with the assistance of almost the entire Dioceses in the Philippines, to help those who were affected by the war, De la Peña said.
De la Peña said the Christian community offered physiological assistance with the help of doctors, nurses, and psychotherapist volunteers.
ACN Philippines was also raising funds for the reconstruction of Marawi. One of its priorities was the Mary Help of Christians Cathedral.
Muslim communities were touched by the solidarity of Christians in helping them to recover, said De la Peña.