Subsistence aid for three religious sisters The congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Divine Providence was founded in Nigeria in the year 2000. The sisters visit the sick and elderly in their homes, caring for them and bringing them Holy Communion. They also support families and women with practical help and advice and are active …
Category archives: Africa
Burundi – Bishops denounce murders and abductions of citizens, saying the situation “makes one shudder.”
Human rights violations are widespread in Burundi, a small country which borders the much larger Democratic Republic of the Congo. For years, the country has been largely isolated from the outside world. Recently, the Burundian bishops drew attention to the country’s plight, which goes largely unnoticed by the general public. For decades, Burundi – a …
ACN Success Story – DRC
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Liturgical and theological literature for future priests There are presently 20 young men from the Diocese of Bokungu-Ikela who are training for the priesthood at various seminaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Their diocese, which covers an area of just over 40,000 km², is roughly the …
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 …
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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 …
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 …
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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, …