India-ACN concerned at reports of increased persecution of Christians

With elections only weeks away in the world’s most populated country, local human rights organizations are warning of a rise in intolerance and of attacks on religious freedom. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses its deep concern over reports that are emerging from India, pointing to an increase in …

Near-East-Fighting to ensure that the testimony of Jesus Christ lives on

For years, Syria and Lebanon have witnessed a steady haemorrhaging of their Christian populations. Through its engagement in multiple projects, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is actively campaigning against the exodus of Christians. “I would like to get out of Syria as quickly as possible and join my father in the Netherlands, where …

ACN Success Story – Indonesia

ACN Success Story: a vehicle for a parish on the island of Sumba Some time ago, Father Jakobus Umbu Warata, the provincial of the Redemptorist Fathers, sought our help for his fellow priests working in the parish of Saint Andrew Ngallu, in the east of the island of Sumba, who were in urgent need of …

Peru-Living the faith in the highest inhabited place in the world

Between coca plantations, illegal gold mining, and a lack of vocations, Bishop Giovanni Cefai of the Territorial Prelature of Santiago Apóstol de Huancané speaks about the difficulties of trying to evangelize in such a challenging atmosphere. The Prelature of Santiago Apóstol de Huancané, which was formed in 2019 and is dependent on the Archdiocese of …

Nigeria-Bishop challenges government to improve security or assume the consequences

Archbishop Matthew Man’Oso Ndagoso visited the village of Adama Dutse, which was attacked in February, leaving widespread destruction and 11 dead. (Photo: prayer at the cemetery where the 11 victims are buried). The archbishop of Kaduna, in Nigeria, has expressed disappointment in the federal government for not ensuring the safety of the population, following another …

SAT-7: a lifeline of faith for Christians in Muslim-majority countries

The ecumenical Christian broadcaster runs several channels, in three different languages, and reaches millions of people with its satellite transmissions. Christians are a small minority in the Gulf Kingdom of Oman and almost all of them are foreign workers. So when Kurt Johansen, the executive director of Christian broadcaster SAT-7, told his hotel receptionist what …

Ukraine: “The grace of the Lord is greater than the horror of war”

February 24, 2024, marked the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Like the whole population, the seminarians are exhausted by this war. But uplifted by hope, they want to be a sign of God’s presence where they are. The seminarians, scarred by the war but matured by their faith, give many testimonies. They …

Haiti-Catholic bishops plead for an end to violence and for national reconciliation

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be joining the day of prayer on March 22 for the people of Haiti. In a message dated March 18, the Catholic bishops of Haiti expressed profound concern about the violence that is sweeping the country. The letter, which was sent to international Catholic charity Aid to …

ACN Project of the Week – Brazil

Subsistence aid for 30 religious sisters The Diocese of Cajazeiras lies in the northeast of Brazil, widely regarded as one of the poorest regions in the country. It is a region afflicted by severe droughts, and the people of this very rural area are for the most part very poor. Not surprisingly, the diocese also …

Project of the Week – Benin

Support for the Benedictine sisters in Parakou The Benedictine convent of Notre-Dame de l’Écoute was founded in 2005 in the Diocese of Natitingou, in the north of Benin. Originally, all the sisters were from France, but there are now also African sisters, and there are more young women from Benin interested in sharing the Benedictine …