Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishop John Keenan of ­Paisley Diocese has urged ­Scottish Catholics at a youth rally in Motherwell to show compassion, solidarity and charity with the world’s most persecuted religion.

On Monday June 18, at ­Motherwell Concert Hall, pupils from across Scotland gathered for a day of standing up for Faith and freedom, at an event organised by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Bishop Keenan said: “Christianity continues to be the world’s most persecuted religion and this sad reality is reflected in the desperation and suffering of so many men, women and ­children who have been forced to flee their homes in the face of unspeakable persecution and violence.”

“Last year, over one million Syrian children of all faiths signed a petition urging the West to support lasting peace in their country—we must answer their calls with compassion, solidarity and charity.”

Bishop Keenan added: “Aid to the Church in Need is helping to rebuild homes, schools and several local churches. We must support their efforts with more prayers, more courage and more resources.”

Neville Kyrke-Smith, ACN’s UK national director, has been with the charity for 27 years and admits that the last few months have been intense with the ­political changes in the Middle East.

Neville said: “We are ­preparing to go back to Iraq as Christians are beginning to return home after Daesh were defeated. Almost half of Iraqi Christians have returned, so that’s really encouraging.

“Archbishop [Bashar] Warda in northern Iraq city of Erbil said that if it hadn’t been for Aid to the Church in Need there likely would have been no Christians to return—so I find that very humbling.

“And of course we are only able to provide that help through the generous fundraising and donations from across the UK and particularly here in Scotland.”

He continued: “Christians are vital to the Middle East because they are the building block, they are the bridge, they are a great buffer between other tribes, and are often caught in the crossfire.

“There is fantastic resurrection of Faith in the Middle East, particularly amongst Christians in Iraq and Syria. Their Faith means so much to them that no matter how much they are put through God keeps raising them up.”

Mr Kyrke-Smith added that with the ‘immense encouragement for Christians in the Middle East,’ we here in Scotland should ‘respond and have a resurrection of our own Faith and perhaps look at our values and what really matters.”

“Monday’s event was a great taster for the young people about what we do and it informs them about the challenge to engage in the charity and stand up for Faith and freedom. It’s vital that young people express their Faith and are not embarrassed,” he said.

Shortly before lunch, organisers had set up a live video link with a group of young Syrians in Aleppo, who shared laughter, joy and stories, before finishing with a chorus of the national anthem.

Fr Andrzej Halemba from ACN and one of the facilitators of the video link, said: “I think it’s a beautiful sign of hope because we are unifying the young people from Aleppo and from Scotland, something which is extremely important.

“The most vulnerable people who are suffering as a result of war are the young people. They do not understand such terrible war; I would say the most responsive people for injustice and suffering are young people. So if we put these two groups together I think we are doing a marvellous job.

“We are bringing and creating a future for the country and it’s why ACN are helping Syrian families.

“We are inviting the young people of Scotland to join them in prayers and thinking about them.”

Fr Andrzej said he journies back and fourth to war-torn countries in the Middle East but ­emphasised that the persecuted Christians of the region are always such grateful hosts.

He said: “Practically every month I am in Syria or Iraq because if you want see for ourselves you have to try and meet the people who are caught up in this war.

“So for instance everytime I am in Aleppo I try to meet the students to speak to them, to pray with them, to sing with them, to dance with them, in order to create that special relationship with them.”

Fr Martin Delaney, chaplain of Taylor High School and an ACN advisor, shared the story of ­martyr and priest Fr Ragheed Ganni, an Iraqi who had studied at the Irish college in Rome two months before Fr Delaney arrived.

The concert hall fell silent as pupils and staff heard how Fr Ragheed was shot dead for refusing an order from Taliban militants to close his church.

Fr Delaney said: “I’m hoping to go out on a trip to Iraq around November so I’m really looking forward to that. It’s all fine ­reciting from stories passed on or things I’ve learned but there is nothing quite like that hands on experience which I can share with the young people—and I’m really looking forward to that.

“It’s been a busy day fulfilling my roles but it’s been a very worthwhile day out for our young people who have learned so much about Aid to the Church in Need.”

Event organiser Lorraine McMahon, ACN head of operations in Scotland, thanked all those involved in the day.

Ms McMahon said: “This year’s ACN rally in Scotland was all we have ever wanted it to be – We had a perfect balance of Faith, music, entertainment, liturgy, witness, laughs, tears, emotions and inspiration that Clair [Sweeney, ACN Schools and Events Coordinator in Scotland] and I hope the schools will take home with them, digest and turn that thought into action in the new term.

“The youth in our Catholic schools are inspiring. They have a true sense of justice and with the guidance and support of their teachers we hope that after the rally, they will all open their hearts to the work of ACN.”

Pupils also enjoyed music from electric pop band Ooberfuse who have performed all over the world including in one of Rio de Janeiro’s notorious favelas and in front of the House of Lords in the UK.

The band has visited various countries where ACN work to support persecuted Christians, including Iraq.