Dear Friends:
Peace be with you!

We are all aware of the grave crisis in Iraq, in which Christians and other religious minorities who have lived there for centuries, a being tortured, killed, and forced to flee their homes by the terrorism of the

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Churches and other sacred sites that have been revered for centuries are being destroyed. Pope Francis and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have issued pleas for the international community to intervene in this situation, which is spreading like a plague and wreaking much destruction and human suffering. Urgent prayer and action is needed to help our brothers and sisters affected by this violence. The USCCB has asked that Sunday, be devoted to special prayers for this situation. If it is more effective, August 24 or August 31 could be days of prayer and fasting for an end to this religious persecution.

Here are some things that can be done:

1. Pray for peace and justice

• Use the following prayer, adapted from His Beatitude Louis Rafael Sako, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Iraq:

Lord,
the plight of Iraq is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you, Lord,
to spare their lives, and to grant them patience

• Use the following as a Prayer of the Faithful:

• On the Sunday designated for special prayers, permission is given in the Diocese of Honolulu for priests to use the following texts from the Missal, along with the readings assigned for the day: Eucharistic Prayer for Use in Masses for Various Needs III; from Masses and Prayer for Various Needs and Occasions, #I, 19, For Persecuted Christians.

​ Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Larry Silva
Bishop of Honolulu