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 …
Category archives: Africa
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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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ACN Success Story – Cameroon
Subsistence support for 28 religious sisters The Diocese of Kribi lies in the south of Cameroon, on the Gulf of Guinea. It covers an area of over 11,000 km² and roughly half of its 250,000 inhabitants are Catholic. There are 28 religious sisters in the diocese from eight different congregations caring for those in need, …
Nuns, Everyday Heroines
Release of ACN Canada’s Magazine Montreal, April 11, 2024 – The first edition of ACN Canada’s Magazine for 2024 is now available! Entitled Nuns, Everyday Heroines, the issue features short portraits of the extraordinary work carried out by nuns around the world. “The word heroines is absolutely fitting,” says Marie-Claude Lalonde, national director of Aid …
Nigeria-The Way of the Cross of a kidnapped priest
Fr. Idahosa Amadasu, from the Diocese of Benin, is one of hundreds of Catholic priests who has been kidnapped and held for ransom by armed bandits in Nigeria over the past few decades. For several days, he suffered fear, humiliation, hunger, and cold, but he found strength in his faith in Jesus to endure a …
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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 …
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 …
A shepherd defending his sheep from danger
Central African Republic On February 23, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Father Aurelio Gazzera, a long-time friend and partner of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Bangassou, in the Central African Republic. The 61-year-old Italian Carmelite priest has already worked for 33 years as a missionary in the country, …
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