World’s tallest statue of St Patrick to be illuminated to highlight plight of people persecuted for their faith
The world’s tallest statue of Ireland’s much-loved patron saint in Co. Down will be illuminated in red for a week to highlight the plight of persecuted religious minorities. The imposing 32-foot statue on Slieve Patrick will be lit in red from November 17-24 to mark what is described as the ‘Week of Witness’ by the charity Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland. ACN supports 6,000 vulnerable communities in 140 countries.
Red is the traditional colour of martyrdom, and highlights the fact that one in seven Christians in the world live in an environment where they are persecuted or discriminated against because of their faith.
Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Alan McGuckian SJ will preside at the vigil Mass in St Patrick’s Church in Saul, Co. Down on Saturday November 16 at 5pm, to inaugurate the lighting. It is close to where the patron saint of Ireland established his first church almost 1,600 years ago. As well as the monument, dozens of cathedrals and churches across the island of Ireland – including the iconic basilica at Knock Shrine – will be lit in red, either for the Week of Witness or on Red Wednesday, November 20.
Michael Kelly, Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland said it is an important awareness-raising opportunity.
“In the 21st Century, you might be forgiven for assuming that religious tolerance and freedom are universally recognised and respected. However, Christians across the globe continue to face varying degrees of persecution, discrimination, and hostility. While the nature and intensity of this mistreatment differs from region to region, the phenomenon remains disturbingly widespread, affecting millions of believers in both overt and subtle ways.
“The ACN Week of Witness has become an important feature in this advocacy and awareness-raising. Red Wednesday is at the heart of the week, and many parishes have heeded the call to hold special liturgies and prayer vigils for those persecuted, and sadly often forgotten,” Mr Kelly said.
Many initiatives are taking place in parishes and communities across the country. For more information about local events, please contact your parish. Mr Kelly thanked the Knights of St Columbanus (CK12) in Downpatrick and Newcastle, who have generously offered to cover the cost of lighting the statue for the week.
The charity, Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN International) – which was founded in the aftermath of the devastation of World War II – now supports some 6,000 communities in close to 140 countries reaching some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people in the world.
The roots of ACN go back to the years after World War II emphasising the urgent work of reconciliation and reconstruction in Europe. In the 1950s, ACN started work to help persecuted Christians behind the Iron Curtain spreading in the 1960s to Christians in difficulty in Asia and in 1965 to Africa.
In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI recognised the importance of Aid to the Church in Need's work by elevating the charity to a Pontifical Foundation.