Religious Freedom Week is celebrated June 22-29.

The observance begins with the June 22 feast day of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, according to a June 13 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops release. The week includes the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and the feast days of St. Peter and St. Paul.

“Let us pray for & give witness to #ReligiousFreedom this week seeking the will of the Father first and His love for us! Am I willing to give my life to #JesusChrist no matter what the cost?” Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, of the Archdiocese of Denver, Colo., said in a June 22 post on Twitter.

The theme of this year's Religious Freedom Week is "Embracing the Divine Gift of Freedom," according to the USCCB release. Catholics are encouraged to pray, look to the lives of the saints for inspiration and do what they can to combat religious persecution or threats to religious freedom.

Both saints honored June 22, suffered the death penalty in 1535 when they upheld their religious beliefs and refused to give their blessings to the king at the time — Henry VIII — who had divorced his wife and remarried to Anne Boleyn, according to the University of Notre Dame. St. Thomas More was killed June 22, and St. John Fisher’s execution followed several days later.

The USCCB emphasizes the importance of prayer and action during this week, particularly for global issues, the release reported. Some issues include 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.

Each day of the special week is dedicated to a specific prayer topic, according to a schedule of events. The topics include respect for sacred places June 22, seal of Confession June 23, Nicaragua June 24, religious student groups June 25, religious freedom in Nigeria June 26, faith at work June 27, service to immigrants and refugees June 28 and Catholic healthcare June 29.

"Religious Freedom Week is celebrated June 22-29," BIshop W. Shawn McKnight, of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., said in a post on Twitter. "It is a reminder to embrace the divine gift of freedom. May people of all faiths feel free to worship without fear."