The message from school children across the Archdiocese of Birmingham is loud and clear – we stand together with our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Around 300 pupils filled St Chad’s Cathedral on Wednesday 19 November for the now annual #RedWednesday Schools Mass.

Hosted by the charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) pupils at the Mass represented 13 diocesan schools, with St Thomas Aquinas, Kings Norton, preparing the liturgy and music, and providing the altar servers.

All schools were involved in a banner procession at the beginning of the service.

ACN’s Annual Masses for Schools in support of #RedWednesday offer an ideal opportunity to link prayers, learn about those ACN help, and fundraise to support them in their times of extreme need.

The #RedWednesday campaign was launched in 2016 and helps to shine a light on the suffering of millions who are persecuted for their faith.

Before the Mass a #RedWednesday live stream was hosted by The Mark 10 Mission.

The day’s focus was: We pray for suffering and displaced children and young people around the world who have lost their homes, their future and sometimes their family members, just for being Christian.

The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Longley. He opened his Homily with:

Dear friends, I want to thank you for coming together today from so many school communities across the Archdiocese. Thank you again for being prepared to pray and offer your support for so many suffering Christians in troubled parts of the world. Red Wednesday is our opportunity as a Catholic community to raise awareness of the sufferings of fellow Christians and many others who are being persecuted for their faith.

Aid to the Church in Need’s Red Wednesday campaign also helps us to show to the world our care and concern for our Christian brothers and sisters. In countries where Christians communities are attacked, it is ordinary families and especially the children who are the victims. This year, Aid to the Church in Need’s stated aim is to pray for suffering and displaced children and young people around the world who have lost their homes, their future and sometimes their family members, just for being Christian.

Read Homily in full

#RedWednesday Mass booklet

At the end of Mass Teresa Kehoe, Community Outreach Manager Midlands | Youth, Schools and Membership Lead E&W, ACN UK, spoke to the congregation and shared the story of Tobias, who was almost killed because of his faith.

All were then invited for refreshments, and a chance to find out more about ACN, in the site's Grimshaw Room.

Discover ACN

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