A Shepherd's Reflection: Standing with the Martyrs

I recently received a heartfelt message from a faithful Catholic in the United States, troubled and grieving over the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, Syria, and parts of the Middle East. Her simple question struck my heart: “Is there anything we can do?”

Yes – there is much we must do.

We must first refuse to look away. The pain of the persecuted Church is not distant from us. These are our brothers and sisters. Their wounds are Christ’s wounds. Their blood cries out from the earth, and far too many in positions of power – political and ecclesial – remain silent.

In Nigeria, priests are abducted and killed. Entire Catholic communities are burned to the ground. In Syria and Iraq, ancient Christian communities that once thrived in the early centuries of the Church have been nearly wiped away. And yet – amid this horror – we find radiant faith. The Church in Nigeria boasts some of the highest Mass attendance in the world, and vocations are flourishing. These Christians, surrounded by danger, refuse to deny Christ. They live as martyrs in spirit – and often in flesh.

Meanwhile, much of the Western Church sleeps. We debate comforts. We tolerate heresy. We remain quiet while the Body of Christ is torn and bleeding.

Where are the voices of world leaders? Where are the urgent statements from powerful nations? There is silence – because the suffering of Christians does not fit the preferred narrative. Martyrdom does not trend. And so it is left to the faithful – to you and me – to raise the cry of truth and to carry the burden of love.

Our Lord said, “If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you” (John 15:18). He promised us not ease, but the cross. And the faithful in Africa and the Middle East bear that cross with courage that should bring us to our knees.

So what can we do?

• Pray – fervently and daily – for the persecuted Church.
• Fast – offer sacrifice in solidarity with those who have lost everything.
• Speak – raise your voice in defense of the voiceless.
• Live the faith – boldly and publicly, as they do, unashamed of the Gospel.
• Help directly - contact organizations like Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), or the Knights of Columbus Christian Refugee Relief. These Catholic groups are actively providing material aid, rebuilding churches, and supporting the faithful in Nigeria, Syria, Iraq, and surrounding regions. You can send letters of support, financial gifts, or prayer intentions through their sites.
• Share public appeals – you can share their public appeals on social media to amplify awareness and rally others to the cause.

We may not be called to shed blood, but we are all called to be witnesses. May the suffering Church ignite in us a renewed fire of fidelity, and may their example remind us that the Church is not dying. She is bleeding. She is being purified. And the blood of the martyrs is still the seed of the Church.

Let us never forget them. Let us live worthy of their sacrifice.

Bishop Joseph E. Strickland