As part of activities marking Red Wednesday 2025, the annual global observance dedicated to persecuted Christians, Catechist Tobias of Holy Family Cathedral, Sokoto Diocese, was invited to share his personal experience of persecution during the Holy Mass held at St. George’s Cathedral, United Kingdom.
The invitation followed a significant encounter in February 2025, when Catechist Tobias met with delegates of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). During the meeting, he recounted his lived experiences as a catechist serving the Church in a region marked by tension and hostility toward the Christian faith. Deeply moved by his testimony, the ACN delegates expressed keen interest in his story and later extended an invitation for him to share it publicly during this year’s Red Wednesday observance.
In his address, Catechist Tobias spoke with simplicity and courage, highlighting the daily realities faced by many Christians who remain steadfast in faith despite intimidation, discrimination, and threats and how he escaped death. His testimony served as a reminder that persecution is not a distant history but a present reality for many members of the Body of Christ.
Red Wednesday, promoted by Aid to the Church in Need, uses the color red to symbolize the blood of martyrs and the suffering endured by Christians worldwide. The celebration at St. George’s Cathedral provided an opportunity for prayer, awareness, and renewed commitment to stand in solidarity with persecuted believers, especially those in vulnerable regions such as northern Nigeria.
The faithful were encouraged to continue praying for peace, religious freedom, and the protection of Christians everywhere, while supporting initiatives that give voice to those who suffer for their faith.
Fr. Pascal Salifu.
(Director of Communications, Sokoto Diocese)
14/12/2025
