Red Wednesday 2022

Learn more about the Night of the Witnesses event to be held in Canberra

ACN would like to thank all the Cathedrals/parishes who participated in Red Wednesday this year! Images of the various Cathedrals will be posted here shortly! 

Since 2018, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Australia has joined commemorations around the world for Red Wednesday. Red Wednesday is an initiative of ACN to pray for, and draw attention to, Christians who suffer and are persecuted for their faith. Notre Dame in Paris; the British Houses of Parliament and the Colosseum in Rome, are some of the landmarks that have participated by lighting their facades in red. Several Australian dioceses have also participated in recent years including Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, and Broken Bay. 

ACN will also be launching its Persecuted and Forgotten Report. The report will cover about 25 countries and will have a reporting period ending 30/09/22. It will be a global survey of persecution and oppression of Christians, with an emphasis on those places where the problem is worst.

Red Wednesday - Ways to get involved

Events: Many churches and Cathedrals in Australia, and throughout the world, will be lighting up in red and holding an event to commemorate Red Wednesday. Below you will find a Cathedral near you.

• Bathurst: St Michael and St John's Cathedral will participate. To learn more visit bathurst.catholic.org.au or call (02) 6334 6400. 
• Brisbane: St Stephen's Cathedral will participate. The Cathedral will be lit in Red and there will be a Mass in the evening on Wednesday 23 November.
• Broken Bay: Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood will be lit in red on Wednesday 23 November and there will be a Mass at 7:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served after Mass. Please RSVP by 14 November to events@bbcatholic.org.au.
• Bunbury: The parishes in Bunbury will participate in Red Wednesday this year. Check with your local parish to find out what is happening.
• Hobart: St Mary's Cathedral in Hobart will hold a prayer service from 7-8 pm on Wednesday 23 November. Light Refreshments will be served afterwards in Sacred Heart Church Parish Centre.
• Melbourne: St Patrick's Cathedral will be lit in red on Wednesday 23 November and a prayer event will be held at 7.30 pm - Presided over by Msgr Joselito Asis, Episcopal Vicar for Migrants and Refugees.
• Newcastle: The Sacred Heart Cathedral will be lit in red on Wednesday 23 November.
• Perth: St Mary's Cathedral will be lit in red from Wednesday 23-27 November.
• Sydney: St Mary's Cathedral will be lit in red on Wednesday 23 November. They will also hold a Red Wednesday Mass at 5:30 pm.
• Wagga Wagga: St Michael's Cathedral will be lit in red on Wednesday 23 November. 

Dress: Wear something red, or a red ribbon, on Wednesday 24 November to raise awareness of those persecuted for their faith. Take a photo of yourself wearing red and share it on social media with the hashtag #RedWednesday 

Pray: Prayer is the bond that unites us in love and solidarity with our brothers and sisters who suffer and are persecuted for their love of Jesus. Join us in praying throughout November for persecuted Christians. You may also want to offer a Mass for suffering Christians 100% of Mass offerings are sent to poor priests who will celebrate Mass for your prayer intentions.

Awareness: The persecution of Christians is too often ignored. You can change this by knowing the stories of those who suffer and making those stories known. Join our mailing list to receive our regular newsletter (via post or email), follow us on social media and share our content. #RedWednesday. Download the brochure on Red Wednesday here.

Donate: By making a donation to Aid to the Church in Need you are helping us to fund projects that support Christians that are being persecuted, oppressed or are suffering. Each year we receive 7500 requests from around the world but we can only help with about 5000 requests due to a lack of funds. If you would prefer to make a donation over the phone you can call: 1800 101 201 during business hours. To donate to ACN use the donation form below. 

Fundraise: From morning teas to marathons to garage sales to movie nights to raffles to bake sales. There is no shortage of creative ways one can raise support and raise funds for Christians in need. What can you come up with?

Red Boxes: You can request to receive a church-shaped 'poor box' to use in your parish or school which can be distributed to encourage spiritual and material offerings across the month of November. To order red boxes call 1800 101 201.

Watch this video of Archbishop Charles Balvo, Papal Nuncio to Australia, share his recollections of Red Wednesday in other nations.

To help ACN in our mission to keep the Faith alive and help persecuted Christians please support us in this Red Wednesday initiative.