Prayer

Please pray for kidnapped archbishops and priests in Syria

Tuesday 23 April: We have heard this morning that Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Boulos Yazaji, both of Aleppo in Syria, were kidnapped by armed men last night. A statement from the Syrian Orthodox Church said Archbishop Ibrahim had been returning from an attempt to negotiate the release of two priests who had been taken hostage. Some reports suggested the archbishops were freed the day after their kidnapping, but the Syrian Orthodox Church said this was not the case and that they do not know their whereabouts.

Please remember these kidnapped archbishops and pray for their safe release, as well as for their driver who was killed in the attack.

Please also pray for Fr Michael Kayal, Fr Ishak Mahfoud and Fr Hassam Tabara, who were kidnapped in February, Fr Fadi Haddad who was kidnapped and murdered in November 2012, and seminarian Benjamin Camil, a seminarian training to be a deacon, who was killed by a bomb last month.

Show your prayerful solidarity for the persecuted Church

Prayer is a vital part of Aid to the Church in Need's work. It is the spiritual bond which unites us in faith, love and solidarity with persecuted and suffering Christians around the world.

Father Werenfried van Straaten with Daughters of the Resurrection SistersSeminarians at prayer in ChinaChinese Catholics prayingYoung Catholics at prayer in ChinaFather Werenfried van Straaten at an ACN Westminster eventYoung altar servers in AfricaFather Werenfried van Straaten (1913-2003), founder of Aid to the Church in NeedChildren praying in EgyptA Sister prays to Our Lady in LithuaniaA young Father Werenfried van Straaten in the Holy Land

Father Werenfried van Straaten with Daughters of the Resurrection Sisters

Seminarians at prayer in China

Chinese Catholics praying

Young Catholics at prayer in China

Father Werenfried van Straaten at an ACN Westminster event

Young altar servers in Africa

Father Werenfried van Straaten (1913-2003), founder of Aid to the Church in Need

Children praying in Egypt

A Sister prays to Our Lady in Lithuania

A young Father Werenfried van Straaten in the Holy Land

The transforming and healing power of  your prayer will comfort and sustain all those who suffer persecution, oppression or discrimination because they believe in Christ.

Please show your solidarity for the persecuted Church today through individual or group prayer and Eucharistic devotion.

Aid to the Church in Need's fouder, Father Werenfried van Straaten, with Pope John Paul II. Photo: Aid to the Church in Need

Thoughts for the Day

Inspiring words from Aid to the Church in Need’s late founder, Father Werenfried van Straaten, Saints’ and feast days and the readings for the day.
Catholics praying in China. Photo: Aid to the Church in Need

Join Us in Prayer

Show your soldarity with persecuted and suffering Christians around the world by joining us in praying the Angelus and the Rosary. You can listen to the prayers and join in with us each day.
Prayer vigil at the Grotto of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Photo: Aid to the Church in Need

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Why not pray together with your friends, prayer group or parish for the persecuted Church? Pledge your support on this page, hold your own day of prayer and request Aid to the Church in Need’s prayer resources.
A priest celebrating Mass in Fergana, Uzbekistan. Photo: Aid to the Church in Need

Mass Offerings

Find out more about how you can support a poor priest in one of the 130-plus countries where Aid to the Church in Need works by making a Mass offering for your intentions or those of a loved one.
A statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Lady chapel at Aid to the Church in Need UK. Photo: Aid to the Church in Need

Your Prayers

Tell us your prayer intentions. We will remember you and your loved ones when we pray Angelus and the Rosary in our UK office, and at our monthly Mass.