MANILA, Philippines — The Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) – Philippines is inviting parishes to join this year’s observance of the “Red Wednesday,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.
On Wednesday, the CBCP said that the papal charity, ACN, will commemorate the event on Nov. 29.
According to the CBCP, Red Wednesday is an event of solidarity, serving as a reminder that Christian persecution is an ongoing phenomenon.
This year, the CBCP said the event’s theme is “Embracing Persecuted, Oppressed, and Needy Christians.” It will highlight the pastoral works supporting Christians from different walks of life.
“If possible, the building facade of the Churches, schools, hospitals, houses, and other institutions is to be illuminated and/or decorated in red,” ACN Philippines administrator Fr. Jaime Marquez said in a statement.
“The local Church may also encourage the faithful to wear red on that day as a remembrance for the shed blood of Christ on the Cross as persecuted and martyred and for the blood of our persecuted brethren,” he added.
Red Wednesday is an initiative launched by ACN in 2015, the CBCP noted.
The conference said that ACN is a Catholic charity supporting suffering and persecuted Christians.
Citing the charity, the CBCP noted that approximately 250 million Christians worldwide live in environments where “violent persecution, discrimination, or restrictions on practicing their faith freely” are present.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, the ACN Philippines said that the country’s celebration of the Red Wednesday is annually held on the Wednesday after Christ the King Sunday, which will take place on Nov. 26.
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