On March 15, 2015, Servant of God, Akash Bashir, gave the gift of ultimate friendship—he laid down his life. Blocking the intended route of a suicide bomber, he saved the lives of over 1,000 Pakistani Catholic Christians who were attending Sunday services.

Akash Bashir was born in Risalpur, Pakistan, on June 22, 1994. He graduated from Don Bosco Technical Institute and was an active member of his Catholic parish community, regularly volunteering to help.

During a shift volunteering as a security guard at St. John's Catholic Church, he noticed a man trying to enter wearing an explosive belt around his waist. Akash blocked his path and said, "I will die, but I will not let you go in." The suicide bomber detonated the explosives, killing himself, Akash, and two others outside the church building with them.

Although the attack was a sorrowful occasion, it is considered a great honor to the Pakistani Catholic Church to have Akash Bashir begin the beatification process.

"A great day for the Catholic Church in Pakistan. He offered his life as a sacrifice to save the lives of the Christian community at St. John's Catholic Church, Youhanabad, Lahore," said Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lahore, Father Francis Gulzar. "He is the first Pakistani Christian who has been raised to the rank of the Holy People of God."

Although March 15 is not his assigned memorial day, we remember Akash Bashir's great sacrifice today and ask for his prayers for all of those enduring religious persecution.


Akash Bashir, Servant of God, pray for us.