Christians in Hanoi Vietnam have scheduled prayer vigils throughout the city to take back the churches that the communist government seized over 50 years ago. Thank you to all who participated in praying for the continued strength of these people, and a peaceful resolution.

After sitting quietly for the last 50 years, Christians in Vietnam are beginning to react to the severe anti-religious communist government. The are now demanding that the government return the church properties they seized from the faithful and are holding prayer vigils throughout the country to pray for God's intercession in this potentially dangerous en devour.

Public gatherings are generally forbidden and those who participate could end up in jail. For years, Vietnamese Christians faced persecution, finding it difficult to get jobs or enter universities. Hundreds of thousands fled to southern Vietnam.

They are holding vigils at three churches, but the focal point is St. Joseph's — the largest cathedral in Hanoi — which routinely draws up to 2,000 people for services that spill into the courtyard.

During the vigils, hundreds of parishioners at a time gather nearby in front of the old Vatican Embassy, a French-style villa now used as a youth sports center.

Our prayers are certainly with them as they try to regain their faith in a faithless government.