Vincentians among Syrian hostage victims

by | Mar 2, 2015 | News | 36 comments

SyriaFrom our Curia in Rome…

FROM : Sister Monique

Late Sunday afternoon on 1 March 2015, I received a message from M. Francoise, a delegate of the International Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and I managed to reach her by telephone.

She was leaving for Paris, and collapsed at the news she had just received: members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Syria were kidnapped, along with their wives and children. The children were isolated and put into cages. Adults who do not deny their faith will be decapitated, and their children burned alive in the cages. M. Francoise had been in regular contact with several of them before all this occurred. She asked me to transmit the news and make a fervent appeal for prayers for these people, and all who are held hostage.

Let us remain fervently united in prayer, and have as our intention the welfare of all brothers and sisters in our Christian faith who are being held hostage.

36 Comments

  1. Joseph Attard

    Pray, pray and pray with faith.
    Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thou will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
    St Vincent, pray for them
    Blessed Frederic, pray for them.

    • Carolyn

      You mentioned Blessed Frederic. How beautiful. He is a favorite of mine. I am sure he is helping very much to give strength to all those who are suffering so terribly. My heart and prayers are with them.

    • L. G.

      God, Our Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, and Mary,
      Please, we ask for your help in changing the hearts of the kidnappers to release these innocent Christians. Save these people. I beg for their release.

    • Lynn L'Heureux

      Join the multitudes on prayer on Friday March 13, for peace and especially for the captives of Vincentian families in Syria. My parish in Calgary, Canada will have a 24 hour prayer vigil and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Pray together on this day. Pray the Rosary and ask our Mother Mary and all the saints to intercede. We need to pray together with others, including Pope Francis on this day and always for peace.

      • Becky Harper

        How beautiful that you had this prayer vigil. I am enduring much suffering this Lent and am offering for these dear families.

  2. Wren

    Is there any further news on this? I am having difficulty finding information…

  3. William Graham

    I find it so hard to understand how people can be so cruel to other human beings. What has caused this hatred?
    The decision for these parents is so difficult as they decide not only for themselves but for their children.
    They are in our prayers.

  4. ruth

    I pray that our father keeps his protection over these Christians …. We do not and will not deny you our faith and he that they are in the valley of the unholy we will not fear for you are among them. Guide them to all that is right and good. Keep them safe. In Jesus name I ask that this prayer be answered …. Our God is a loving God Amen

  5. Rosemary McCloskey

    The devil is loose in Syria as in other places in this world We are not prayng enough, nor fasting enough to counteract this evil that is the work of Satan who has got into the hearts of these perpetrators.Let us join in a campaign of fervent prayer for these poor people who are faced with such hatred terror and suffering. Of course they will be martyrs but we need to ask God to give them the strength and courage to face up to whatever is in store for them for the sake of Jesus name.

    • Rosemary McCloskey

      Just interested to learn of Rosemary McCloskey above as we share the same name. I am an Australian citizen.
      Would like to hear from Rosemary to share background information etc.

      • Mary Posey

        Oh, Rosemary, thanks for praying and thinking of all the people who are suffering. I live in Maryland now but spent 9 years in Australia, mostly Sydney and Queensland with several trips to NZ. I have a few Catholic friends there and a friend who attends Hillsong in Sydney. What a wonderful ministry. Australia needs a revival–don’t we ALL. Blessings to you wherever you might be in OZ!!

    • Gordon Lucas

      I would like to thank you for your inspired post . . . the Devil IS loose. And I shall join you in prayer for these and other victims of what very well could be possession.

      God Bless you all.

      Gord

  6. Terry Eke DC

    We are united with these suffering brothers and sisters. A 30-day Novena Mass starting tomorrow shall be offered for them.

  7. kat

    Your Orthodox brothers and sisters are praying with you. I was just informed of this tragic event through a parish email. Lord have mercy on us.

  8. Rosemary McCloskey

    My deep sympathy goes to those Christian martyrs in Syria. As Our Lord said “Don’t be surprised when the world hates you for “you are not of the world” & He also said “If they persecuted Me they will persecute you also” . May they rest in peace.

  9. Susan Schneider

    May the angels surround the little ones and may Mary wrap her mantle of love around all the families who are being persecuted.

    • Dona

      Oh my Jesus.

  10. Diane

    Seraphic Mass Association will be offering 900 Masses from Easter Sunday, for nine days, for whatever Intentions are submitted to them. The Donation is whatever you can afford.
    http://www.SeraphicMass.org

    God bless
    Diane
    United with you in Prayer

  11. Diane

    Thank you.

  12. Cindy

    his is devastating. When children today hear about the Holocaust, they question how could this happen and wonder why didn’t the world stop it. So we have to ask ourselves these questions now in the face of this present evil.

    St. John Matha and Our Lady of Good Remedy rescued thousands of Christains who were captured by Muslims and sold into slavery 800 years ago.

    We should try to rescue these poor people before they are captured, slaughtered or sold into slavery. Every parish in the world could adopt one family or just one person and sponsor them in their countries until they are able to support themselves or return safely home. If it worked 800 years ago why couldn’t it work today.

    Maybe it should start with the St. Vincent de Paul Society because they are already working in parishes all over the world.

    Prayer to Our Lady of Good Remedy and St. John Matha link below:

    http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/remedy.htm

    Jesus said to St. Faustina:

    “Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if you had done it to me.” (1768)

  13. Cathy zeigler

    What has become of the families and their children? Where did the photo of the children dressed in orange prison clothes come from? Why aren’t we seeing this story on CNN or FOX News. I am praying for these families. Where do we go to get news of them?

  14. Julia

    Holy Father Francis has called for a World Day of Prayer. That is 24 hours of continuous prayer from 13th March to 14th March 2015.

    Our parish is making this 24 hours of prayer. And Anyone who is concerned about the situation in the Middle East can join Holy Father in petitioning from their own parish for Gods Mercy especially in the Middle East, that this appalling slaughter will end.

    Saint Michael, great Prince and guardian of your people,
    Come with the Holy Angels and Saints and protect us.
    Amen.

  15. Frank

    Chkdten burnt in cages other bead headed and of course abortions ….adult suffering are in thing but children I say we need harrybtruman again to stop this madness like he did with war with Japan of course there will be innocent innocent victims lithe. A k then but my Gid people this madness if he’ll wound done away with bomb these sobs and stop the words but pray someone Weill step up and not just talk while more people are killed martyrs or not .

  16. jen

    God, mercy….

  17. Faye Wilkes-Johnson

    Such sad news. My prayers are with my Vincentian family. May God be with them and spare them. I pray that their captors release them unharmed.

  18. Crescentia

    Jesus’ words to St. Faustina:

    “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy (Diary no. 300)

    “Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace (Diary no. 1074)

    “My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack (Diary no. 1074)

    (From her diary: Divine Mercy in my soul)

    JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU

  19. Rich

    Lord Jesus, come! We need a cleansing of this world. Satan and his minions are taking over this world and seek to destroy it. Father, God almighty, have mercy on us!!!

  20. Anthony

    Brutal savages they are indeed. The days of the holocaust are present
    everywhere. Let us ask Our Lady to intercede as in Lepanto.

  21. Fr. Matt

    Heaven help these poor souls. Our Lord burned with a white-hot anger when the Temple was profaned; we should burn with a white-hot thirst for justice and righteousness on behalf of these innocent Temples of Christ. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for them; St. Michael, the archangel, defend them in battle; St. Louis IX, warrior King of France, pray for us. May heaven bring courageous leaders who won’t turn their back on this senseless violence but will take steps to stop and alleviate their suffocating darkness.

  22. Theresa

    The Vincentian priests are the order that helped Servant of God Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey, who was a Daughter of Mary nun, locate the Blessed Mother’s House in Ephesus, Turkey in 1891. A Muslim man owned the property, the house was found on, a Muslim guide helped the Vincentian priests find the house, and a Muslim family were the first caretakers of the House of Mary after Sr. Marie bought the House of Mary for Church. It is a place of pilgriimage for both Catholics and Muslims. We must ask Sister Marie and Fr.’s Poulin and Jung to pray for them.

  23. Kerry

    This is such tragic news. Jesus, Mary and Joseph please wrap your mantles tightly around all of the men, women & children who are suffering so. I pray that they will be the men, women and children you desire them to be, Sweet Jesus. Mary, please be present with the children when their mothers and fathers can’t be with them comforting them. Jesus we trust in you!!!

  24. John Dickinson

    The inhuman, inhumane actions of those who would take Vincentians, their wives, and children with evil intent, is beyond tragic. Vincentians live to help those in need — even those terrorists would be helped if in need. We rely on the strength of prayer that those taken captive will be filled with the strength and courage that our Heavenly Father can offer. May the captors transition in favor of understanding and mercy that our Vincentians and their families are not their enemy and pose no threat. The wheels are set in motion in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas to storm the heavens with prayer for our fellow Vincentians in the Middle East as well as all Christians and others who may be in harm’s way. We look forward to news that they are released to safety and allowed to continue God’s work.

  25. Apryl

    My family & I have been praying about this every day, & every time we pray.
    We are heartbroken over this.

    We are also contacting our senators and representatives to demand action!
    We absolutely Will NOT allow this situation to go forth!

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