PH marks Red Wednesday in solidarity with persecuted Christians

More than a thousand parish churches across the country were lit in red on Nov. 28 to highlight the plight of persecuted Christians around the world.

This was the second time the event was held in the Philippines, and several parishes and Catholic schools joined the “Red Wednesday” campaign.

In Manila, the event was highlighted with a Mass presided by Fr. Teresito Soganub, who was abducted by the terrorist Maute group during the Marawi siege last year.

After the Mass, he led a prayer outside the cathedral while surrounded by people holding candles.

In his homily, the priest stressed that the event aims not only to remember the persecuted Christians but also the conversion of persecutors.

“That’s why I’m very passionate when we celebrate this Red Wednesday because I knew from heart when you are a victim of persecution it’s not only your eyes that will cry, your heart, you soul, your entire being because you don’t know what to do,” Soganub said. “You cannot do anything except to pray.”

Jonathan Luciano, national director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Philippines, said that the red is a symbol of honor to the blood of those martyred for the faith.

“As the report says, or even previous reports, Christianity is still the most persecuted religious group in the world,” he said, “In 2016, one Christian is killed every six minutes because of the faith.”

“We come together as a country, and we pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters,” Luciano said.

About 1,136 churches and 37 Catholic schools in the Philippines have joined other nations in this year’s Red Wednesday campaign.