Week of Witness and Red Wednesday 2020

Aid to the Church in Need Ireland began the Week of Witness and Red Wednesday as an invitation to Christians in Ireland to stand in solidarity with, and bear witness to the heroic example of, our persecuted brothers and sisters in faith across the world. ACN Ireland has been able to grow its’ mission and strengthen its’ message of support for the persecuted Church with the faithful of Ireland.

This year, the ACN Week of Witness will take place between 25 November and 1 December, with many important talks to be livestreamed on the theme of Christian persecution. During the Week of Witness, the Red Wednesday Liturgy of Witness will be held in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. This is a beautiful opportunity for the faithful to gather as a community of witnesses and pray not only for persecuted Christians – but also for the persecutors of Christians.

During the Week of Witness, people are encouraged to undertake some Ways to Witness, including:

ILLUMINATING their church or school in red to show the world that the sacrifice and suffering of the persecuted and martyred Church is an ongoing reality.
WEARING a red tie, scarf or scapular as a mark of the blood lost by Christians in defence of our Faith.
PRAYING for the suffering and persecuted Church at the hours of the Angelus, 1200 and 1800 and during Holy Mass, or consider giving a homily on the theme of persecution and martyrdom in the Church.
ATTENDING a Red Wednesday Liturgy of Witness (in the Republic of Ireland, due restrictions related to COVID-19, ACN Ireland’s events will be live-streamed via https://www.acnireland.org/mass).
DONATING to ACN Ireland to help in our work for persecuted Christians globally – your donations constitute a powerful corporal work of mercy

You, through your help and support of ACN Ireland, can help save lives, save souls and save the Faith. In pursuit of this charism and mission, we at ACN Ireland are so grateful for your witness, your prayers and your alms to help make this reality, by the Grace of God.

Should you have any queries at all in relation to organising an event in relation to ACN in your parish, please feel free to contact us via email on [email protected] or via phone at +353(0)1837 7516 or +44 289 5313369.