By Staff writers and OSV News
St Mary’s Cathedral and St Maroun’s Cathedral in Redfern joined 14 other cathedrals and churches across Australia and New Zealand in praying and advocating for the world’s persecuted Christians on 19 November.
Each marked Red Wednesday, the focal day of a month of special remembrance led by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) by holding Masses or prayer services and lighting their façades in red in a solemn reminder of the blood shed by innocents.
The 20th century produced double the number of Christian martyrs than all the previous 19 centuries put together.
In this century and the present day, religious persecution and discrimination – a frequent precursor to martyrdom – currently affects nearly 5.4 billion people in 62 countries worldwide, according to the Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025 released in October.
Red November participation in Australia and New Zealand has more than doubled in the past two years, with a record 30 dioceses and eparchies participating, according to ACN.
More than 55 parishes, schools, and diocesan groups have held events throughout the month, including Masses and liturgies, praying rosaries, school assemblies, pilgrimages and candle-lit processions.
Among them were a number of Sydney archdiocesan schools who took part for the first time.
Primary school teachers, family educators and students took part in Red Wednesday vigil events and liturgies, notably St Mary’s Primary School in Georges Hall, and Sacred Heart Primary School in Villawood.
Family educators of the south-west network of schools hosted a Jubilee Year pilgrimage and retreat for parents at Mt Schoenstatt in Mulgoa in Sydney’s west, where all attendees wore red.
National director of ACN Australia and New Zealand Bernard Toutounji said Red Wednesday is a “powerful reminder” of the reality many Christians still face today.
“I am deeply moved by the commitment of the church in Australia and New Zealand and the grassroots efforts of her faithful, lighting our cathedrals in red is a powerful public statement,” he said in a statement.
“But what truly makes a difference is when everyday people take action – when they stop to pray, when they give to practically support the suffering church, when they commit sharing the stories of persecuted Christians with others.”
