Scotland's Catholic Bishops invite you to pray for the persecuted church on Red Wednesday (19 Novmber).

Cathedrals across Scotland will celebrate Mass on the day, and it will take place in our Archdiocese at 7:00pm in St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.

The bishops recorded a video message to highlight the need for prayer and practical action to support Aid to the Church in Need, which helps the persecuted and suffering Church across the world.

Video message transcript

Bishop Joseph Toal (Motherwell): "My dear brothers and sisters this Red Wednesday Our Scottish cathedrals will celebrate mass for our persecuted brothers and sisters across the world."

Archbishop Bill Nolan (Glasgow): "Red Wednesday is the global awareness day for Aid to the Church in Need, who help millions of Christians every year who suffer persecution, discrimination and even violence simply because of their faith in Jesus Christ."

Bishop Andrew McKenzie (Dunkeld): "Did you know that 80 per cent of all religious persecution in the world is directed against Christians? This is a hidden crisis of our time, one that has too often ignored in our western culture."

Bishop Brian McGee (Argyll & the Isles): "Yet for countless families and communities across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and beyond, the cost of following Christ is immense."

Archbishop Leo Cushley (St Andrews & Edinburgh): "This initiative by Aid to the Church in Need, Pope Leo’s charity for the persecuted and suffering church, is growing in Scotland, but we can’t do it without you."

Bishop John Keenan (Paisley): "This year I invite you to join us for the Red Wednesday Mass in our Cathedrals. We will pray for our brothers and sisters who risk everything even to attend Mass and receive the sacraments, and  to pass on the faith to their children."

Bishop Frank Dougan (Galloway): "Their courage and witness is a reminder to us all that our faith is not just something that should be hidden but it's something that we should defend and shine brightly before others for the glory of God."