“You Are Not Forgotten”: Diocese reflects on Red Wednesday Mass for persecuted Christians

11/30/2025

Christians around the world continue to face violence, discrimination, and forced displacement simply because they profess the name of Christ. Earlier this month, on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025, the Diocese of Calgary gathered at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Mass for Persecuted Christians. Bishop William T. McGrattan celebrated the liturgy at 5 pm in unity with Red Wednesday, the worldwide day of prayer for persecuted believers. Priests from across the Diocese concelebrated with him, along with Fr. John Jwad of the Chaldean Catholic community, whose people continue to live the daily reality of persecution.

As he began his homily, Bishop McGrattan referred to the 2025 Aid to the Church in Need report, which tracks the status of religious freedom around the world. He highlighted the scale of suffering by pointing to the number of countries identified in the study. “Twenty-four are actively being persecuted in violent ways,” he said, “and at thirty-eight are experiencing forms of lack of freedom and discrimination.” He added, “What is staggering is that this is affecting close to 5.8 billion people.” He noted that many of these situations are driven by “authoritarianism political machines,” creating cycles of oppression, displacement and instability across entire regions.

Reflecting on the readings, the Bishop spoke about the Gospel scene of Christ’s pierced side. “The piercing will bring new life,” he said, pointing to the three testimonies named by John: “blood, water and spirit.” He explained that “it is in the water that we are redeemed and made children of God,” and that “it is in the blood of Christ that we participate in the sacrifice of the suffering that we celebrate in the celebration of the Eucharist.” These signs, he said, “are to be given also as signs and symbols of life for all humanity.” He reminded the faithful that “this is the faith that conquers the world,” a faith that moves believers to offer support and welcome: “It is God’s love revealed in Christ, which we are asked to give as support and welcome to those who experience persecution and come to us, a country that experiences freedom.”

Fr. John Jwad then shared the lived experience of the Chaldean Catholic Church. “Behind every family is a story touched by fear, loss and fervour,” he said. He recounted how, after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Christians were kidnapped, tortured, raped, and murdered. He described 2014, when ISIS militants entered northern Iraq: “They came into our towns, our villages and our homes, delivering a brutal convert, leave or die. In the middle of the night, thousands fled with nothing but the clothes that they were wearing.” Many who fled that night are now his parishioners in Calgary, though, as he said, “many others were not able to start a new life in Canada, weren’t as lucky.”

He also spoke about Christian families stranded in Turkey and Lebanon, separated from their communities and living under daily pressure and fear. “These families are isolated, voiceless and invisible to the world. Their faith is their only anchor,” he said. “We gather not only to remember them, but to stand with them. You are not forgotten. Even in the darkest of nights, the light of Christ is always shining.”

Although Red Wednesday has passed, the call to prayer and solidarity continues. Let us remain committed in remembering persecuted Christians and standing with them in faith and compassion.