Published:

A service of Lenten Music and Meditation will take place at The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, W1K 3AH on Tuesday 8 April 2014 at 7pm.

The event will focus on the suffering of Christians in Syria and will include music sung by the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School. The evening will also include talks by Lord David Alton and Aid to the Church in Need's John Pontifex.

Yesterday Lord Alton released a statement - following the news that Fr Francis Van de Lugt SJ, a Dutch Jesuit priest, was killed outside of his monestary in Homs on 7 April: “He personified all the best qualities and ideals which the Society of Jesus stands for. He joins a long list of Jesuit martyrs who have sacrificed their lives truly believing that a man has no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends... The tragic news of Fr Van der Lugt's murder came just 24 hours before a Vigil for Syria in London's Jesuit church at Farm Street. It's a moment to honour a great man but also to raise our voices and prayers."

The event is free but there will be a collection for Aid to the Church in Need’s work in aid of children and families who have fled their homes as a result of the conflict in Syria.

For more information visit: acnuk.org or telephone: 020 8642 8668