More individuals must pray for the millions of Christians who are persecuted for their faith.
Friday marks the grand opening of the new Shrine of Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians in Clinton, Massachusetts.
The shrine, which will be the third of its sort in the world, is the brainchild of Father Benedict Kiely, who in 2016 launched Nasarean.org, a non-profit and ministry advocating for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
The installation at St. John the Guardian of Our Lady Parish in the Diocese of Worcester will be followed by the world premiere of Catholic composer Paul Jernberg’s “Mass for Persecuted Christians,” a sung Mass arrangement.
Kiely, an English Catholic priest in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, stated that most “quite excellent” choirs can sing the Mass.
The English priest who has spent years ministering to persecuted Christians in the Middle East stated that the Bible instructs believers to pray for each other.
“Therefore, we must think that prayer is effective and strong,” he stated. When interacting with persecuted Christians in countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Iraq, the first thing they ask for is prayers, according to Kiely.
He said, “So if people are requesting it, how can we refuse?”
Kiely stated that praying at Mass for persecuted Christians is insufficient.
“We must have a location,” he remarked. We have built a location where we can pray continually for our afflicted brethren.
On Friday, Worcester Bishop Robert McManus will bless the shrine, which will feature an icon of the Blessed Mother to urge Catholics to pray for persecuted Christians around the world. Deacon Ebrahim Lallo, a Syriac Catholic deacon from the Iraqi city of Bartella, painted the icon.
ISIS drove Lallo out of his community in 2014, but he has now returned. The icon was painted by Lallo at Kiely’s request. Due to Kiely’s frequent excursions to the war-torn country, the two have become friends.
In 2017, the first Marian shrine with the same name was inaugurated at the Church of St. Michael on West 34th Street in New York City. Last month, Nasarean.org established its second location in the Soho neighborhood of London, England, at the Ordinariate Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory. The shrine’s placement in the Massachusetts church will be commemorated with a new fully sung Mass setting including the composer’s “Chor Unum” choir.
The Mass’s music has been published online and may be heard here.
Wednesday, Kiely informed CNA that any parish wishing to hold a Mass for persecuted Christians is welcome to utilize the sung Mass.
Kiely stated that he is grateful to Bishop McManus for permitting the shrine’s installation, as it demonstrates that he values praying for persecuted Christians.
“Therefore, I believe that every bishop who does this strongly identifies with the persecuted Church,” he continued.
Kiely stated that any bishops interested in erecting a shrine in their dioceses are encouraged to contact his organization. The icon of Mary will be offered at no cost, he added.
Kiely stated that the installation would be exceptionally attractive.