ACN Project of the Week – Central African Republic

An all-terrain vehicle for the Diocese of Bangassou Since June 2024, Italian Carmelite Father Aurelio Gazzera has been coadjutor bishop in the Diocese of Bangassou, a particularly difficult region in the southeast of the Central African Republic. This vast area of almost 135,000 km² is almost half the size of Italy and large parts of …

Central African Republic – “Little by little, hope is being reborn.”

Although the country now enjoys a fragile peace, there is still insecurity, leading the bishops in Central African Republic to appeal to the international community not to forget the African nation. The Church, they say, will continue to fulfill its prophetic role. A unique spirit of dialogue and cooperation between Christian and Muslim leaders set …

DR Congo: Local ACN sources confirm massacre with 70 bodies found in North Kivu church

Over 70 bodies were found in a Protestant church in a village near Lubero, North Kivu, according to local sources contacted by the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The killings took place between February 12 and 15, in a village called Maiba, near Lubero. On February 12, rebels from an …

Zimbabwe – Religious sisters the “foot soldiers of Christ”

Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the Church has been slow to recognize the contribution of sisters to the Church’s work, but that fortunately in Zimbabwe this is beginning to change. The bishop of Masvingo in Zimbabwe says that the Church in his country, and in general, owes a …

Supporting Catholic radio stations in war zones

To commemorate World Radio Day on February 13, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is highlighting its ongoing support for Catholic radio, an essential tool for both spreading information and evangelizing throughout the world. In 2024, the charity committed over $770,000 to 22 radio projects in 19 countries. Hundreds of Catholic radio stations are …

ACN Success Story – Democratic Republic of Congo

Solar panels and sewing machines for a community centre There is great rejoicing in Lisala, in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo, over the new solar panels and sewing machines that your generous donations have made possible. The Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary run a centre here which cares for …

Burkina Faso: Two catechists brutally killed in a road attack

The Christian community in Burkina Faso is in mourning following the murder of two catechists in a violent attack on Saturday, January 25, in the Diocese of Dédougou. The victims belonged to the parish of Ouakara and were attacked close to Bondokuy by two armed men while returning from a training session on the life …

DR Congo: Missionary describes chaos in Goma, with “many dead and refugee camps under attack”

Two weeks after the M23 armed group attacked the city of Goma, there is still fighting in the province of North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, leading to a worsening of the humanitarian conditions in the region. A missionary in the country tells Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) …

ACN Projects of the Week – Zimbabwe

A new vehicle for a remote parish Zimbabwe is a landlocked nation in southeast Africa with a population of nearly 17 million. The population is predominantly Christian, although 75% belong to various Protestant denominations. Catholics represent only around 16% of the population. Zimbabwe has long been plagued by a severe economic crisis, made even worse …

Kenya: a total transformation for rescued girls

For many years, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has provided support, especially through scholarships, to members of the Assumption Sisters of Eldoret. Using the skills obtained through this aid, the sisters have been helping to get girls off the streets of Nairobi. During a visit to Aid to the Church in Need’s headquarters …