A vehicle for a parish hit by the earthquake In February 2023, a powerful earthquake struck the region of Southern Turkey and Northern Syria. At least 50,000 people died, and a large number of buildings were destroyed. Among the areas most hard-hit was the city of Aleppo in Syria, already devastated by the civil war …
Author archives: mariobard
Mozambique: Church focused on promoting interreligious dialogue in terrorist-plagued north
The Catholic Church has been playing a discrete but important role around dialogue that could effectively end the plague of terrorist violence in northern Mozambique. Father Eduardo Roca, a project partner of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), founded the Interreligious Centre for Peace, in the Diocese of Pemba, in 2017—the same year terrorist …
ACN Success Story – Ethiopia
A chapel for a remote village The more than 500 Catholic faithful in the village of Dakaya in the Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo (in the south of Ethiopia) are rejoicing because they finally have their own chapel. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to contribute $20,562 so that their new chapel …
One million children praying the Rosary for world peace!
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Press Release – Save the Date! – Montreal, June 8, 2023 – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada is pleased to announce that the One Million Children Praying the Rosary event is back again this year and will take place on Wednesday, October 18. “Praying for peace in an …
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Nigeria – Priest calls for the beatification of Pentecost Sunday attack victims
One year after the attack on St. Francis Xavier church in Ondo, Nigeria, none of the culprits have been brought to justice. Victims wear their scars as “badges of honour” and their faith is as strong as ever. A Nigerian priest has called for the beatification of around 40 Christians who were killed in an …
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Brazil – Bishops moved to tears over help received from ACN benefactors
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was present at the latest bishops’ conference in Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world. The pontifical charity used the opportunity to spend time with the bishops of the poorest dioceses, but also to share stories of Christian suffering from other countries, namely Nigeria. The international charity …
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Changes in the leadership of ACN International
Regina Lynch becomes new executive president As of June 14, 2023, international Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be led by Regina Lynch, the long-serving head of projects for the charity. She will take on the role of executive director for the next five years from her predecessor, Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern …
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Pakistan – Bishop calls for better security after policeman kills two girls at Catholic school
The attack, which left two dead and six wounded, took place on May 16 at a Catholic school in Sangota, in northeastern Pakistan. (Cover Photo: Archive of 2018, in St. Joseph Primary School, Rawalpindi) A police officer who was doing security work for a Catholic school for girls in northeastern Pakistan opened fire on a …
Project of the Week – Pakistan
Support for the training of 63 catechists in Khushpur Khushpur, in the Faisalabad District of the province of Punjab, is the largest Catholic village in Pakistan. It is sometimes referred to as “Pakistan’s Vatican,” because this village, with its close to 8,000 Catholics and extremely active Church life, is a pillar of strength for the …
Nigeria: “Religion should unite us, not divide.”
A Catholic Archbishop who needs guard dogs in the house, and an armed escort when he travels, speaks of the difficulties of carrying out his mission in his diocese. Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna, in north-central Nigeria, leads one of the most dangerous dioceses in the world. You wouldn’t guess it, though, from his smile …
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