Aid to the Church in Need — Canada (ACN)
Montreal, 2023-10-12 – One Million Children Praying the Rosary, Aid to the Church in Need’s pilgrimage to the great Marian shrines of Lourdes and Fátima, and Red Wednesday. It is a fruitful fall for ACN Canada!
“As hundreds of participants gather in Rome this month for the Synod on Synodality, all of the activities we are organizing are opportunities to pray that the Church will emerge from the synod stronger,” says Marie-Claude Lalonde, national director of ACN Canada. “We will be especially praying for the Church’s ongoing dedication to peace among those who need it most so that everyone can live the values of the Gospel in peace and security. And we will pray especially for peace in the Holy Land.”
Thus, on Wednesday, October 18, hundreds of thousands of children around the world will be praying the Rosary for peace and unity in the world. “Everyone is invited to join in the virtual prayer event, which will take place at 7 p.m. (EDT), or to organize a time of prayer in their parish, local community, or even within their own homes,” says Ms. Lalonde. To register, please visit https://acn-canada.org/one-million-children/. The event is completely free of charge.
From Lourdes to Fátima
From October 25 to November 6, 2023, 50 people, including a deacon and three priests, will be on a pilgrimage, stopping off at the world’s two greatest Marian shrines: Lourdes and Fátima. “I’m very happy to be able to share my passion as a pilgrim,” says Brian Cordeiro, a permanent deacon from the Diocese of Montreal and organizer of the trip. “The pilgrims are coming from various parts of Canada: Ontario, New Brunswick, and many from Quebec, and we are even welcoming one from Boston. This pilgrimage will be bilingual (English and French), in addition to being ecumenical!” says Mr. Cordeiro with enthusiasm. The Latin-rite Catholics will be joined by two from the Armenian Apostolic Church, two from the Syriac Orthodox Church, and two from the Armenian Catholic Church.
“Many of the pilgrimage participants have already heard about the persecution of Christians around the world and the work of ACN. Others will hear about ACN for the first time during the pilgrimage and even as early as our pre-departure meeting on October 12,” says Cordeiro. “The pilgrims in our group have also connected online and have been very active, much more than I expected. I am excited for this pilgrimage to begin!” concludes the deacon.
Red Wednesday: November 15
Travellers will be back just in time to take part in Red Wednesday, which will be celebrated this year on Wednesday, November 15. “As in previous years, the Canadian office of ACN is one of several international offices kicking off Red Week,” explains Mario Bard, ACN Canada’s head of communications. “The archdioceses of Montreal and Toronto have already announced the celebration of Masses at 5 p.m. in their respective cathedral-basilica. But it is in the Diocese of Calgary that we are already seeing the most scheduled activities, which will be announced shortly.” Saint-Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal (Cover photo) has also confirmed that the basilica’s dome will be lit up in red and a Mass will be celebrated the afternoon of November 15.
Parishes, communities, and individuals interested in learning more, organizing or registering their own activity, or downloading materials for organizing a time of prayer can visit the event’s page at: https://acn-canada.org/rw/.
“With the release of our new Religious Freedom in the World Report in June, we absolutely must continue to raise awareness of the fact that religious persecution in the world is on the rise and is directly affecting Christians,” Mr. Bard reminds us. “Not to mention our Western societies, which struggles to engage in dialogue when it comes to religious freedom, despite it being a right that is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Let us pray that polarization will subside, and that this will lead to a better understanding of each other,” he adds.
To read, download and/or print the Executive Summary, please visit: https://acn-canada.org/religious-freedom-report-2023-executive-summary/.
