A three-year outreach program for all ages The Archdiocese of Dhaka in Bangladesh serves a population of just 85,000 Catholics. As in all the country, Catholics in the capital city of Dhaka are a minority, representing less than 1% of the population. Over 90% of the population in this country of South Asia is Muslim, …
Author archives: mariobard
A ray of hope for Christians in the Holy Land this Christmas
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa says that even though he does not believe there is a short-term solution to the crisis in the Holy Land, he does have hope for the future of Christians in the region. The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem believes that the end of the war in Gaza is in sight but warns that …
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ACN remains firmly committed to supporting Christians in Syria
In light of the recent developments in Syria, the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) wishes to express its continued commitment to the vulnerable Christian communities in Syria, who have endured many years of war, poverty and uncertainty. Regina Lynch, ACN’s executive president stated: “The fall of the Assad regime and the …
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Red Wednesday 2024: The World, United in Red for Religious Freedom
In solidarity with those who suffer in silence for their faith During #RedWeek, from November 17 to 27, 2024, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) united people from all around the world to pray for persecuted Christians. Worldwide solidarity and prayer vigils, as well as the illumination of over 1,000 monuments, churches, and public …
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Mexico: “The hardest thing is telling a child their father has been killed.”
In one of the most dangerous states in Mexico, the Worker Sisters help children who are exposed to violence. With support from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), they also train novices who grew up in difficult environments, preparing them to bring hope to vulnerable communities. “One of our children saw his father be …
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ACN Success Story: Malawi
New chapels for two remote villages Malawi, a landlocked country of Southern Africa, is among the poorest countries in the world. The parish of Benga lies in the east of the country, close to Lake Malawi, in a region of great poverty. Though only established in 2013, the parish has already witnessed 6,000 baptisms. Still, …
Haiti on the brink: bishops issue a “cry of alarm” for peace
In the face of rampant violence which is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and isolating Haiti from the rest of the world, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti, in a message received by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), calls on the government to act and appeals to every Haitian to work for peace and overcome hatred. …
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Ukraine – After 1,000 days of war, “People are tired, very scared, and without hope,” says priest
Despite the danger, a Brazilian missionary priest has stayed in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Fr. Lucas Perozzi thanks Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for the help it keeps providing and remains committed to spreading the Gospel. Fr. Lucas Perozzi found himself in Ukraine when Russia began its full-scale assault on …
ACN calls for prayers for Aleppo amid escalating violence and fear
Syria Following a heartfelt plea from a missionary and ACN’s project partner in Aleppo, the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls on all people of faith to unite in prayer for the safety and peace of this war-torn region. In a voice message shared with ACN, Father Hugo Alaniz IVE, an …
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Aid to the Church in Need dedicates Christmas campaign to persecuted Christians in Burkina Faso
Montreal/Königstein, November 28, 2024 – Press Release Since 2015, Burkina Faso, which is around 25% Christian, has become a hotbed of violent Islamist extremism. Since 2019 in particular, priests, religious, and faithful have been increasingly targeted by terrorists. Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will focus its Christmas campaign this year on …