Denver Newsroom, May 21, 2021 / 17:01 pm
A Christian coalition is supporting the prayer octave for the Church in China urged by Charles Maung Cardinal Bo of Yangon.
In 2007, Benedict designated May 24, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, as a Worldwide Day of Prayer for the Church in China. In March, Cardinal Bo called for that day of prayer to be expanded into an octave, observed May 23-30.
Deacon Andrew Bennett, spokesperson for the Global Prayer for China campaign and a deacon serving in the Ukrainian Eparchy of Toronto, has said that “Cardinal Bo has taken a very courageous and welcome step in calling on the Church around the world to pray for the Church and the peoples of China, and it is incumbent on us to respond to his call. That is why a group of Christians has come together to help facilitate this week of prayer.”
“We hope many individuals and parishes will take part in some way, through the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass and in personal, private prayer. Our new website is designed to assist and facilitate this, and we hope that individuals and parishes will use the resources available through the website, spread the word to others, and mobilize the Church worldwide to pray for China,” commented Deacon Bennett, who is also a former Canadian Ambassador for Religious Freedom.