Catholics are in the middle of celebrating Religious Freedom Week, an annual observance that prompted some Church leaders to address what the week means.

“Let us pray for and give witness to #ReligiousFreedom this week seeking the will of the Father first and His love for us!” Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila said in a tweet ahead of the week’s kickoff. He then asked followers to consider this question: “Am I willing to give my life to #JesusChrist no matter what the cost?” 

Bishop W. Shawn McKnight also used social media to remind people of the week’s significance.

“Religious Freedom Week is celebrated June 22 – 29," McKnight, bishop of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, wrote in a tweet. "It is a reminder to embrace the divine gift of freedom. May people of all faiths feel free to worship without fear.” 

The week officially started Thursday. This year’s theme is “Embracing the Divine Gift of Freedom,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said. 

Religious Freedom Week starts on the feast day of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher. This day is a significant one on the Church's calendar. It commemorates the bravery of the two saints who were beheaded by the King of England in 1535, the University of Notre Dame said in an alumni association newsletter called Faith ND. 

St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher stood by their religious beliefs when they refused to condone the king's divorce or acknowledge his subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn. Putting their commitment to their convictions first, of course, meant they had to go against the king's actions, Faith ND said in its report. St. Thomas More was executed on June 22; St. John Fisher was killed nine days later. 

Religious Freedom Week also encompasses the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, which occurs on June 24, and the week ends with the feast of St. Peter and Paul. During the weeklong observance, the faithful typically engage in prayer, seek inspiration from the saints as models of faithful citizenship, and take action regarding areas that pose threats to religious freedom, the USCCB said in its press release. 

The USCCB underscored the significance of prayer and action that should come in connection with several global issues, the group said in its release. Global concerns of note this year are the ongoing religious persecution in Nigeria, the importance of Catholic healthcare, immigration concerns, and the protection of religious freedom for Catholic institutions like schools and hospitals, the USCCB added.

Each day of the week is dedicated to a specific prayer topic, the USCCB said. The schedule is as follows: June 22 - Respect for Sacred Places, June 23 - Seal of Confession, June 24 - Nicaragua, June 25 - Religious Student Groups, June 26 - Religious Freedom in Nigeria, June 27 - Faith at Work, June 28 - Service to Immigrants and Refugees, and June 29 - Catholic Healthcare.