In honor of Religious Freedom Week June 22-29, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated a special Mass for Religious Liberty at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington June 26.
Each year, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops invites Catholics to pray, reflect and act to promote religious freedom. Religious Freedom Week coincides with the feasts of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of the diocese, and St. John Fisher. This year’s theme is “Witness to Hope.”
“We understand that this gift of religious freedom and liberty is given to us so that our faith is not kept within but brought out to the world — to evangelize it, to sanctify it — as witnesses to hope,” Bishop Burbidge said in his homily.
Each day of the week highlighted a specific prayer intention. USCCB provided a daily guide on its website on how to pray, reflect and act on these intentions, including topics like political polarization and those suffering religious conflict in Nigeria.
“I hear from our young people,” Bishop Burbidge said, “on college campuses, what it’s like if they dare write in a paper or speak in class what they truly believe and defend the morals, virtues, and values to which we all hold dearly.”
Throughout the end of May and early June, more than 200 Christians were massacred in Nigeria in a wave of targeted violence across the country.
“Religious Freedom Week reminds us what we can do amid this sad reality. It all begins with what we do as we gather here today. We must pray intentionally and specifically that religious liberty and freedom are safeguarded and protected and upheld in this nation and throughout our world,” Bishop Burbidge said.
With rising tensions throughout the nation and around the globe, Bishop Burbidge asked to pray for world leaders and elected officials. “That they will be enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit and find the grace to be courageous in doing what is right and good and just,” he said.
He concluded his homily by asking those in attendance to embrace and profess their faith every day.
“So dear friends, as you receive Jesus in the holy Eucharist today, pray for those graces. That you treasure this freedom that it leads you to deepen your relationship with the Lord. To express your love for him and his church not just by words, but also in the consistent practicing of your faith and that you go out every day and proudly profess it, share it and live it,” Bishop Burbidge said.
