Pray for Our Brothers and Sisters in Egypt

I apologize for talking about this now, on Sunday.

But the weight of grief and oppression I felt Friday — which is the day I usually write about our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ — has lifted, and I feel compelled to talk about it now.

According to Asia News, at least 58 Christian churches, schools, homes and shops have been attacked, looted and torched in Egypt in the last three days. The Christians of Egypt need our prayers today on this Lord’s Day.

Sunday is a time of rejoicing and feasting, our Sabbath of thankfulness for the Resurrection and its promise of eternal life. But on this Sunday, it is also a time for us to unite ourselves with Christ crucified all over the world.

Jesus suffers this minute in Egypt. His churches, convents, institutions and homes are burnt and destroyed. His people are subjected to terror and all forms of violence.

This is the face of Christ Crucified in our world today.

We can not ignore our Suffering Savior in these His people.

I hope that you will pray the Novena for the Persecuted Church that we began today. I hope also that you will pray and ask God to show you how you may help our persecuted brothers and sisters.

The list below is the names of the churches, convents and institutions that have been attacked that we know of. From Asia News:

Catholic churches and convents

• 1. Franciscan church and school (road 23) – burned (Suez)
• 2. Monastery of the Holy Shepherd and hospital – burned (Suez)
• 3. Church of the Good Shepherd, Monastery of the Good Shepherd – burned in molotov attack (Asuit)
• 4. Coptic Catholic Church of St. George – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 5. Church of the Jesuits – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 6. Fatima Basilica – attacked – Heliopolis
• 7. Coptic Catholic Church of St. Mark – burned (Minya – Upper Egypt)
• 8. Franciscan convent (Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) – burned (Beni Suef, Upper Egypt)
• 9. Church of St. Teresa – burned (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
• 10. Franciscan Church and School – burned (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
• 11. Convent of St Joseph and school – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 12. Coptic Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart – torched (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 13 Convent of the Sisters of Saint Mary – attacked (Cairo)
• 14. School of the Holy Shepherd – attacked (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 
  
• Orthodox and Evangelical Churches
• 1. Anglican Church of St. Saviour – burned (Suez)
• 2. Evangelical Church of St Michael – surrounded and sacked (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
• 3. Coptic Orthodox Church of St. George – Burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 4. Church of Al-Esla – burned (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
•  5. Adventist Church – burned, the pastor and his wife abducted (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
•  6. Church of the Apostles – burned (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
•  7. Church of the Holy renewal – burned (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
• 8. Diocesan Centre Coptic Orthodox Qusiya – burned (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
• 9. Church of St. George – burned (Arish, North Egypt)
• 10. Church of St. George in al-Wasta – burned (Beni Suef, Upper Egypt)
• 11. Church of the Virgin Mary – attacked (Maadi, Cairo)
• 12. Church of the Virgin Mary – attacked (Mostorod, Cairo)
• 13. Coptic Orthodox Church of St. George – attacked (Helwan, Cairo)
• 14. Church of St. Mary of El Naziah – burned (Fayoum, Upper Egypt)
• 15. Church of Santa Damiana – sacked and burned (Fayoum, Upper Egypt)
• 16. Church of St. Theodore – burned (Fayoum, Upper Egypt)
• 17. Evangelical Church of al-Zorby – Sacked and destroyed (Fayoum, Upper Egypt)
• 18. Church of St. Joseph – burned (Fayoum, Upper Egypt)
• 19. Franciscan School – burned (Fayoum, Upper Egypt)
• 20. Coptic Orthodox Diocesan Center of St. Paul – burned (Gharbiya, Delta)
• 21. Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Anthony – burned (Giza)
• 22. Coptic Church of St. George – burned (Atfeeh, Giza)
• 23. Church of the Virgin Mary and father Abraham – burned (Delga, Deir Mawas, Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 24. Church of St. Mina Abu Hilal Kebly – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 25. Baptist Church in Beni Mazar – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 26. Church of Amir Tawadros – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 27. Evangelical Church – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 28. Church of Anba Moussa al-Aswad- burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 29. Church of the Apostles – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 30. Church of St Mary – arson attempt (Qena, Upper Egypt)
• 31. Coptic Church of St. George – burned (Sohag, Upper Egypt)
• 32. Church of Santa Damiana – Attacked and burned (Sohag, Upper Egypt)
• 33. Church of the Virgin Mary – burned (Sohag, Upper Egypt)
• 34. Church of St. Mark and community center – burned (Sohag, Upper Egypt)
• 35. Church of Anba Abram – destroyed and burned (Sohag, Upper Egypt)
• 
  
• Christian institutions
• 1. House of Fr. Angelos (pastor of the church of the Virgin Mary and Father Abraham) – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 2. Properties and shops of Christians – Burnt (Arish, North Egypt)
• 3. 17 Christian homes attacked and looted (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 4. Christian homes – Attach (Asuit, Upper Egypt)
• 5. Offices of the Evangelical Foundation – burned (Minya, Upper Egypt)
• 6. Stores, pharmacies, hotels owned by Christians – attacked and looted (Luxor, Upper Egypt)
• 7. Library of the Bible Society – burned (Cairo)
• 8. Bible Society – burned (Fayoum, Upper Egypt)
• 9. Bible Society- burned (Asuit, North Egypt).