Monday, I met with Bishop Jude, now the shepherd of the Diocese of Ondo, Nigeria, who served here in the archdiocese as pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Elmsford.

I gathered as well many priests from Nigeria who so generously serve here. Together, we listened as Bishop Jude described the ongoing persecution of the Church in Nigeria; priests and sisters taken hostage, tortured, and killed; faithful wounded and murdered; churches attacked and set aflame.

Nigeria is a young, vibrant, growing, prominent Church. Along with the Philippines and India, it is the fastest-growing Church on the planet.

Yes, fanatics and some in the government see it as a threat that must be crushed. The Church, of course, has been there before.

I presented Bishop Jude with $100,000 from you, the people of the archdiocese.

You recall that periodically I ask for a special second collection to the aid of the Church suffering from a natural disaster, or persecution. Remember we had one a couple of months ago to assist the earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey. It’s from that fund that I draw to help the Nigerian Church.

Thanks for allowing us to do this. Pray, please, for those attacked for their faith in so many countries of the globe.