By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC
Clergy from the Archdiocese of Miami and from various Eastern-rite and Orthodox churches pose for a photo after participating in the prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East at St. Mary Cathedral.
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC
Chorbishop Michael G. Thomas, pastor of Heart of Jesus Maronite Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale, processes out of St. Mary Cathedral at the end of the prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East.
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC
Father Timothy Soliman of St. John the Baptist Coptic Orthodox Church in Miramar, greets fellow clergy and parishioners at the end of the prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East.
MIAMI | Christians are an endangered species in the Middle East, says Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
“Today, Christianity is at risk of disappearing from the region in which the Gospel was first preached,” he told a gathering of representatives from Roman, Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches in South Florida April 26.
Hundreds came together at St. Mary Cathedral to participate in a prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East and to pray for those who are suffering persecution for their faith.
“Today, as we pray for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, and for all those who suffer persecution throughout the world, we reject all violence in the name of God,” the archbishop said during his homily.
During the 20th century, more Christians were martyred — killed for their faith — than in the previous 19 centuries combined, the archbishop noted. According to the Society of Human Rights, 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed against Christians. This reality is clearly visible in war torn places like Syria and Iraq but it is also prevalent in other parts of the world.
“It makes no difference whether the victims are Catholic, Copt, Orthodox or Protestant. Their blood is one and the same in their confession of Christ!” said Pope Francis in a recent message to the patriarch of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church, His Holiness Abuna Matthias. The pope was reacting to the slaughter of 28 Ethiopian Christians kidnapped in Libya by the group ISIS.
“I reach out to you in heartfelt spiritual solidarity to assure you of my closeness in prayer at the continuing martyrdom being so cruelly inflicted on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and some parts of Asia,” Pope Francis said.
The solemn vigil at the Archdiocese of Miami was born out of a desire to create a greater awareness of this persecution and to find ways to stand in solidarity with all Christians victimized around the world.
“The Holy Father has been speaking out against the violence in the Middle East and calling for prayers and this is one way to answer that call,” said Archbishop Wenski.
Clergy and parishioners from various Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches took part in the vigil. Some expressed feelings of powerlessness.
“I commend the archbishop for calling us together and I think the best thing we can do is pray,” said Msgr. Michael Souckar, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Coral Springs. “I think a lot of people in the parishes feel somehow frustrated, thinking what can they do? They can contribute financially to relief organizations, but they can also pray. To pray is to do a lot.”
Msgr. Souckar has “bi-ritual” status: a Melkite Catholic by ancestry, as a seminarian he obtained permission to be ordained in the Latin Church — the Miami Archdiocese. In 2001, he was appointed an archimandrite in the Melkite Eparchy (diocese) of Newton, which covers the entire United States.
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC
Msgr. Michael Souckar, pastor of St. Andrew Church in Coral Springs and an archimandrite in the Melkite Eparchy of Newton, processes into the Cathedral of St. Mary at the start of the Prayer Vigil for peace in the Middle East.
“It’s so important that they contact their elected officials to bring to their attention that these Christians are being massacred and nobody is saying anything about it,” said Chorbishop Michael Thomas, pastor at Heart of Jesus Maronite Church in Fort Lauderdale, one of the Eastern Catholic churches in communion with Rome. “They need to contact their elected officials so that the world can wake up and try to help these people.”
According to Archbishop Wenski, local Christians can also show solidarity with persecuted Christians by lobbying the U.S. government to help provide a solution that would alleviate the crisis of refugees in the affected areas. Parishioners can also support policies that promote peace and don't make the situation worse.
Souraya Faas, a parishioner of Syrian descent at St. Jude Melkite Church in Miami, which is also in union with Rome, said the vigil provided her with a way to answer the call made by Pope Francis. In addition, it served as a reminder of the power of Christian prayer.
“It’s great to see how the whole community came together for this (vigil). The power of prayer is very important, it moves mountains,” said Faas. “I think if everybody prays together, that is what’s going to bring the peace.”
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
These are the prayer intercessions used at the vigil for peace in the Middle East. Feel free to include them in your daily prayers:
- For the Holy Father, Pope Francis, Archbishop Wenski and for all who lead us in faith, that they may be shepherds in guiding us in the ways of peace.
- For government leaders throughout the world, that they will seek peaceful means to bring about reconciliation and respect for human life.
- For the unity of the people of the Middle East, that they will choose the path of peaceful dialogue in order to resolve age-old conflicts.
- For all who continue to suffer and die because of war, that through the intercession of Mary, nations will strive to build a world of compassionate understanding and peace.
- For all who have died, that they may rest in eternal peace and joy in Christ our Savior.
