Burkina Faso: Christians Shift Christmas Eve Midnight Mass to Afternoon Amid Growing Jihadist Threat

Image: Jihad Watch

Instead of the traditional midnight Mass that marks the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve, Christian communities in Burkina Faso will now assemble for worship in the afternoon—a stark adjustment driven by fear for their lives rather than choice.

Church leaders have decided to hold services before nightfall so that worshippers can return home while it is still light. After dark, travel has become dangerously risky, as Islamic extremist groups operating in the region have repeatedly targeted Christians, turning routine journeys into potential death traps.

The decision follows a series of brutal attacks that have shaken the faithful. On October 6, 2025, three Christian students returning from Mali for the start of the academic year were stopped while traveling by bus. They were forcibly removed from the vehicle and shot dead in Djibasso parish, within the Diocese of Nouna. The violence did not end there. Just hours later, armed assailants opened fire on vehicles along the Nouna–Dédougou road, killing at least 15 people. Among the victims were passengers linked to another Christian parish, underscoring the deliberate nature of the targeting.

These killings form part of a wider campaign of intimidation aimed squarely at Christian communities in the region. In September and October, several catechists—key figures in parish life—were either kidnapped or murdered in separate incidents. One was abducted during Sunday Mass itself, while another was killed while returning from a pastoral meeting, a grim reminder that even religious duties now carry mortal risk.

Local sources say the intent behind these attacks is clear: to instill terror, disrupt Christian worship, and ultimately force believers to abandon their homes and parishes. Against this backdrop of sustained violence, celebrating Christmas in daylight has become an act of survival. The shift from midnight worship to afternoon prayer reflects not a loss of faith, but the harsh reality facing Christians who continue to practice their religion under the constant shadow of extremist violence.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)