End apathy on persecuted Christians, Thomasians urged
(Photo by Rian Sablan, Dapitan Post)
THOMASIANS should end their indifference toward their mistreated Christian fellows and instead be sensitive to their needs, a director aiding for persecuted Christians said during the University’s “Red Wednesday” campaign.
Jonathan Luciano, the director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), said that people who were apathetic to their fellow persecuted Christians were “somehow” part of the persecution in an advocacy forum held at the Central Laboratory Auditorium on November 22.
“Through this Red Wednesday campaign, we would not only like to be in solidarity with Christians who were persecuted, but we also would like this opportunity to look into ourselves. We’re also somehow part of the persecution because of our indifference…That is not the attitude of a Christian,” Luciano said.
Luciano also reminded the students to support and help them through prayer, information dissemination and concrete action.
“It is our duty now to keep the world informed and with this information, comes awareness. When awareness comes, then we can do something about it,” he told reporters regarding the student's role in helping the persecuted Christians.
Bsp. Edwin De la Peña, Bishop in Prelature of Marawi, echoed Luciano, saying the terrorists who captured the Marawi City did not succeed in dividing Muslims and Christians communities.
De la Pena said those people have found a way to live harmoniously together amid the division attempt.
“What happened is just the exact opposite… Although we experienced… war in Marawi, we were also led to a very beautiful experience of being able to feel common humanity. There is this mutual spontaneous expression of compassion and mercy for one another… This is a war that has galvanized our efforts in interfaith dialogue,” De la Pena said.
Red Wednesday activities
Also on the same day, Thomasians commemorated the “Red Wednesday” campaign in the attempt to raise awareness on worldwide Christian persecution through various activities around the University.
These activities include a seminar, photo exhibit, Mass, and candle-lighting ceremony.
Asst. to the Vice-Rector Fr. Roberto Luanzon O.P. and Vice-Rector for Religious Affairs Fr. Pablo Tiong O.P., presided the concelebrated Holy Mass for Red Wednesday at the Santissimo Rosario Parish.
Luanzon emphasized in his homily that the they are one with the persecuted Christian through the said celebration.
“We are one with them [persecuted Christians] by celebrating this solidarity with them. Even though we don't experience what they experience of being persecuted... is for us to continue to manifest and show our faith, our love to God in everything that we do,” Luanzon reminded Thomasians.
Fr. Tiong led the prayer and the candle-lighting ceremony for fellow Christians in the world who suffered and are still suffering from injustices.
Thomasians wore red shirts while several buildings and places in UST were lit up with red light at night as a part of the university’s participation on the said campaign.
Also, a photo exhibit outside the auditorium featured portraits and stories of Christians all over the world who were persecuted for their faith.
The Office of the Vice-Rector for Religious Affairs and the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office led the activities at the Red Wednesday campaign, entitled “Persecuted and Remembered: In Solidarity with Persecuted Christians Worldwide.” BEA LAFORGA
