As rescuers prepared to extract one-by-one the 33 miners trapped in the San Jose Mine in Chile, the president of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic, encouraged believers to intensify their prayers for the success of the rescue operation, which will begin Oct. 13.

Bishop Goic encouraged the faithful to attend the prayer vigils and special Masses scheduled to be held at churches across the country.

“This is an opportune moment for the entire Church to unite in this prayer of faith and hope,” he said.