The Archbishop of Oklahoma City has called for fervent prayers from the global Catholic community as a satanist group prepares to conduct a ‘Black Mass’ on the Feast of Assumption later today.

The ceremony is due to take place at the Civic Center in Oklahoma City and has been deliberately timed to mock the Marian feast day. The satanic ritual is expected to include the desecration of a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Archbishop Paul Coakley invited Christians to gather for a Unity Prayer Service and Walk at 6pm in “response to the blasphemous event”.