Prayer day for Iraqi christians

Yesterday was Earthday. The Old City switched off its lights for one hour. Only street lights remained. It was eery to see the huge monuments like the Citadel disappear into the darkness.

The building that we saw burning several nights ago was confirmed as the Petra Hotel - owned by the Greek Orthodox Church. Only the upper half was destroyed. Word is going around that it applied to the govt. to renew it's roof but did not get approved, so by burning it would get pass this bureaucracy. But as you know, and which someone once famously said - this city runs on rumours.

I can hear fighter jets roaring overhead. Must be another attack on Gaza. I just got another load of medicine for the Christians in Gaza. Lots of medicine for schizophrenia. Christians are so traumatised by the fighting and persecution, many have loss their senses. The Missionaries of Charity are trying their best to care for these people, and rely on our help to get the medicine.

On Saturday 24th, the local christians and clergy will gather in the town of Bilin to pray for the christians in  Iraq. There the persecution is even more ferocious, and Iraqi christians living here in Israel are asking for our prayers and help. So the local churches are uniting to spend a day of praying in unity with Iraqi christians. I hope you will also. Spend a moment on Saturday praying for your fellow christians in Iraq, offer a Mass for them, go to the Internet and inform yourself of how bad the situation is, spread the word to other christians, say a rosary, get an intention mentioned during Sunday Mass. In times of such persecution and suffering, we must unite in faith and courage, and like the ancient church mentioned in the Mass readings this week (Acts of the Apostles), we must support and defend each other.