In Lebanon and Syria, these projects will help the Church face the electricity crisis As the world celebrates the 30th anniversary of World Sun Day on May 3, and to underscore the importance of renewable energy resources, international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is highlighting how solar panels are making a …
Author archives: mariobard
ACN Success Story – India
A pastoral centre for the Diocese of Diphu The Diocese of Diphu lies in the state of Assam in the far northeast of India. This is a region of great poverty, where a variety of Indigenous tribes traditionally live. Most of them still adhere to their traditional tribal religions. The number of Catholic faithful in …
Brutal murders of Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt continue
Local community leaders say that the attacks followed tactics similar to those employed by armed bandits responsible for the Christmas massacres in Nigeria. Religion is a factor in the conflict which also has ethnic and economic roots. (Archive photo: a woman in tears after the attacks of Christmas 2023. This Easter time, the same scenario …
Continue reading “Brutal murders of Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt continue”
Sri Lanka-A town stands as a witness to the Resurrection after persecution
Five years after the Easter bombings, thousands of faithful have signed a petition addressed to Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, asking him to open a Cause for Beatification for the 171 Catholics killed in that tragic event. Cover photo: parishioners pray before a statue of the risen Christ, stained with the blood of the martyrs of Easter …
Continue reading “Sri Lanka-A town stands as a witness to the Resurrection after persecution”
DRC – “Our country is not for sale!”
Six bishops from the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have written an “assessment of the pastoral and social situation” of the country, following a meeting which took place in Butembo, from April 8-14, and which paints a bleak picture of the state of the country and denounces how “the dignity of …
ACN Project of the Week – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Help for the training of 14 seminarians in Sarajevo Many of the Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina have now left their country. In fact, their numbers have halved since the last Bosnian War, which ended in 1995. Today, there are only around 400,000 Catholic faithful left, accounting for barely 15% of the total population. Sadly, …
Continue reading “ACN Project of the Week – Bosnia and Herzegovina”
Congo-Brazzaville: A forgotten Church
In December, Maxime François-Marsal, head of section for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)’s French-speaking countries in Central Africa, travelled to Congo-Brazzaville, also known as the Republic of the Congo—a nation which borders Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this interview, he speaks about the situation of …
Breaking News-Burkina Faso-Catechist kidnapped and killed
Aid to the Church in Need expresses its deepest concern and sorrow following the kidnapping and subsequent killing of the catechist Édouard Yougbare from the parish of Saatenga in Fada Gourma, Burkina Faso. The catechist was abducted last night by terrorists and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning. According to local sources …
Continue reading “Breaking News-Burkina Faso-Catechist kidnapped and killed”
Africa: Poverty, main driver of migration
A bishop from Equatorial Guinea reflects on the causes and consequences of migration on the African continent and calls for a more effective focus on the fight against poverty and illegal emigration. At least 8,565 people died on migratory routes all over the world in 2023, making it the deadliest year on record, according to …
Continue reading “Africa: Poverty, main driver of migration”
Sudan – One year of war has left the country without any seminarians
For a year, the “war of the generals” has been raging across an already weakened country. The population is in agony and the small Christian community is shrinking away. “I once again ask the conflicting sides to stop this war, which is so harmful to the people and to the future of the country. Let …
Continue reading “Sudan – One year of war has left the country without any seminarians”