Denver, CO | St. Rafka Church | Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast

St. Rafka Church celebrated its 5th Annual Colorado Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast presented by the Apostolate of Our Lady of Hope. Bishop Michael J. Sheridan, Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez, Father Brad Noonan (pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish—host), Father Andre Mahanna, and many other Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders, along with the many concerned people of faith and good will, gathered to learn how we can help preserve the rights of persecuted Christians throughout the world. 

The Prayer Breakfast weekend began Friday evening with the celebration of the Liturgy at the beautiful parish of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun was the main celebrant and homilist; the Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Brad Noonan, Knights of Columbus State of Colorado Chaplain, Fr. John Sterns, Fr. Andre Mahanna, and the master of ceremonies, Msgr. Giovanni Fusco, Secretary General of the Apostolic Union of Clergy in Rome. Fr. Andre Mahanna and the choir provided exquisite hymns. 

Salih Hudayar of East Turkistan (now under China) gave a moving account of the persecution the Uyghur personally experience in concentration camps this very day. Participants also viewed the movie trailer for Christians In the Mirror to shed light on the plight of the persecuted who are oppressed for their faith. Mr. Patrick Carberry, producer, spoke briefly regarding his personal testimony and desire to become involved in bringing attention to our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters. 

The Prayer Breakfast began in silence with a candle-lit procession of the ecumenical spiritual leaders who sang the Paschal Troparion. The prayer service was presided by the Most Reverend Bishop Michael J. Sheridan, Bishop of Diocese of Colorado Springs. Co-Presiders included: The Most Reverend Bishop Jorge Rodriguez, Auxiliary Bishop, Representative of Most Reverend Samuel Aquila, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Denver Colorado, the Most Reverend Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun, Vicar for Clergy, Representative of Most Reverend Elias A. Zaidan, Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.