SW News: The Catholic Diocese of Ondo in Nigeria has announced a weeklong program to honor the victims of last year's Pentecost Sunday attack. The Diocesan Director of Social Communications has said that from June 5 to 10, the Church in the country will host various events to commemorate those who lost their lives in the attack.

"The week features the opening of two memorial parks built by the Ondo State Government and Catholic Diocese of Ondo in honor of the deceased, candlelight procession, Mass of the dedication of the church and consecration of the altar and a memorial Mass to round up the events," said Fr Ikwu Augustine Ikwu.

On June 5, there will be an interdenominational service and the dedication of the memorial park built by the Ondo State Government. The visitation of the bereaved and the disabled will take place on June 6, and there will be a Holy Mass celebrating the church's dedication and the altar's consecration on June 8.

On the final day, June 10, a Memorial Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in memory of the deceased and thanksgiving to God for the survivors of the attack. Following the Mass, a memorial park created by the Ondo Diocese will be officially inaugurated.

Fr. Ikwu has called for prayers for the success of the events. The St Francis Church in the town of Owo was attacked by armed terrorists belonging to the Islamic State of West Africa Province on June 5, Pentecost Sunday. They started firing on Catholic worshipers who had gathered for Mass and detonated explosives, killing 39 and injuring 80 more.

The federal government of Nigeria and the security forces in Ondo State reported the arrest of a few individuals a few days after the incident.

Persecution against Christians in Nigeria has increased drastically over the years. In the northern part of the country, Christians live under the threat of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province, armed Fulani Muslim herdsmen, and criminal gangs. Hardline Islamist groups want to eliminate Christianity from the nation and establish their version of an Islamic state.