Prayer in the Square attends St. Rafka ecumenical event in defense of Christians

St. Rafka Mission of Hope and Mercy responds with concrete acts of charity to the growing suffering and persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East.

“On May 20, this interfaith community gathered once more for the second annual ecumenical prayer breakfast, hosted by Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Bishop Abdallah E. Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles,” reported The Denver Catholic.

The morning event, held at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Lakewood, began with an Ecumenical Prayer Service for the persecuted that  included 1st century hymns in Aramaic and modern hymns in Arabic followed by a Lebanese breakfast and first-person testimonies from the Middle East and Africa.

Morgan Rosand, program coordinator to the Respect Life Office, attended the event on behalf of Prayer in the Square,  the mission of which includes prayer for the end of the persecution of Christians. Each attendee at the breakfast received a Rosary packet complete with a Rosary made in the Holy Land, a Rosary prayer booklet and information on Prayer in the Square. In addition, an announcement was made at the beginning of the program encouraging all attendees to get involved with the growing Prayer in the Square initiative, which gathers at six Front Range locations on Saturday, June 4 — and every First Saturday.

Let us not be afraid to stand publicly as living prayer intercessors in solidarity with our persecuted brethren, and the modern-day Christian martyrs. We encourage you to stay informed about the courageous work being undertaken by St. Rafka Mission of Hope and Mercy. The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters must be heard in each of our hearts. Let us respond well to their cries!

“The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard…It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. They are Christians. Their blood is one and the same. Their blood confesses Christ.” – Pope Francis

Fr. Andre-Sebastian Mahanna, St. Rafka Maronite Church (at left);
Deacon Elias Naoum, Syrian Orthodox Church (right); with Morgan Rosand.
Photo Credit: Susan Carskadon