Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians Program

Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians is the 18^th prayer program sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, designed to strengthen Catholic values and our prayer lives.

This program features an image of Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians blessed by Pope Francis (with dimensions of 40” X 27” (102cmX69cm). The Image is protected by a carrying case for traveling and is accompanied by a kit containing Prayer Cards and Prayer Books.

The Marion Prayer Program is an excellent way to involve new and younger members in Council activities. Members can assist distributing cards and prayer books, collecting the prayer books at the end of each Prayer Program, as well as reading and singing during the Prayer Program. Consider including your 4th Degree Assemblies in your Prayer Program with an Honour Guard which will add Visibility and Distinction to this Sacred and Solemn Occasion.

Here are some suggestions to help your council in planning your council’s participation in Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians Program.

• Once you find out when your council is scheduled to receive the image, consult your chaplain and/or pastor about the service and set a location for the prayer service to be held. Here is the schedule for Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians Program listed by district.
• Make sure there are enough Prayer Cards for Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians Programs for the next Council. Before Prayer Card supplies run low, please contact the State Office ([email protected]; 800-759-0959) or Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians Program Chairman Gino Di Pede ([email protected]; 647 339-8396) and allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.
• Prayer Books are not meant to be keepsakes and are to be collected after each Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians program. Only Prayer Cards (not Prayer Books) are meant to be given out as keepsakes for participants.
• The District Deputy, in his district, will organize with the Grand Knights a schedule so each council can host a Prayer Service. The program is designed that each council have Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians image for a week. This allows parishes to be able to display the Image at week-end masses if pastors and chaplains desire (remember we need permission from our clergy!!!).
• In addition to a Prayer Service during weekday or weekend Masses (or after mass), consider bringing the Image of Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians to Elementary and High Schools so that children may receive Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians in a new way. Schools, Nursing Homes, festivals and parishes are excellent examples of ways Councils and Districts can help strengthen our families with this program.
• Grand Knights and Council Members must work with their District Deputies to transport Images, Prayer Books and Cards from one Council to the next…including when these need to move on to the next district.
• The Image and booklets must be PROPERLY wrapped or boxed and PROTECTED before moving to avoid damage of any kind.
• Identify council members and clergy to fulfill the various roles called for in the prayer program (Get new and young members involved!).
• Representatives of your council should attend the service of the council from whom you will receive the image and bring the image and supplies to your council.
• Instruct the congregation to say the prayers at a moderate pace to ensure the service is truly reverent.
• If possible, the choir leader should review the hymns with the congregation before the service.
• Supreme advises NO money should be collected nor should any social activity be held in conjunction with the service.
• The Grand Knight (or delegate) should record the council’s program in the Log Book that accompanies the image before sending it on to the next council. District Deputies will be asked to pass along updates of the Log Book to Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians Chairman (Sean Dunlop) so that updates can be shared with Supreme each month.
• When completing the Log Book, also make a count of students who were able to see Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians Image in the schools.