“In our workshops, women discover many gifts they did not even know they had”

Missionaries in Cuba On March  8 was celebrated International Women’s Day.We want to highlight the work of religious sisters from the Company of Mary in Cuba, who have managed to continue providing assistance to youth, the elderly, and women with the help of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “This is a time to …

Dominican Republic: Over six hours on the road to spread the faith

Father Júnior Vásquez suffered a very serious foot injury a few years ago, due to the bad condition of his car. Now, with a new vehicle donated by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), he can reach even the remotest areas more easily. Father Júnior Vásquez (photo) spends over six hours per day on …

In Haiti, “it’s about surviving,” says Bishop Quesnel of Fort-Liberté

Gang violence, forced migration, and poverty continue to plague Haiti. In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Bishop of Fort-Liberté, Quesnel Alphonse, speaks of looting by gangs, the growing influence of Islam, and the trauma of a population that “feels completely lost.” *** The cover photo was taken in 2017. …

Haiti on the brink: bishops issue a “cry of alarm” for peace

In the face of rampant violence which is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and isolating Haiti from the rest of the world, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti, in a message received by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), calls on the government to act and appeals to every Haitian to work for peace and overcome hatred. …

Haiti: “We must overcome our fear and bestow hope”

Plagued for months by gangs that plunder, kidnap and terrorize the population, Haiti continues to fight every day for its survival. Amid this terrible situation, the Church in the country remains a beacon of hope, says Fr Baudelaire Martial, a Haitian priest from the Congregation of the Holy Cross (photo), who visited the international headquarters …

Dominican Republic – Faith and hope in the bateyes

In Batey 5, a peripheral area of the Diocese of Barahona on the border with Haiti, three missionaries, with the support of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), help fight poverty and social exclusion in the neediest parish in one of the poorest dioceses in the Dominican Republic. Not far from the luxurious resorts …

Haiti-Seminary looted and vandalized, as security situation worsens

A seminary operated by the Spiritan missionaries in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince was attacked by armed gangsters. The religious and staff had to hide for six hours during the looting of the premises, before managing to escape to safety. (Cover photo: The cathedral of Port-au-Prince, in ruins, destroyed in the earthquake of 2010.) The Minor …

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 …

Haitian Archbishop: “Our people are a people who want to live”

On Sunday, March 3, 2024, the Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency after armed gangs stormed the national prison in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Haiti is sinking deeper and deeper into chaos. Pastoral life is seriously affected by the violence and the frequent kidnappings, but the faithful are braving the dangers to live their …

A dark weekend of Christian persecution

Almost 30 Christians were killed or kidnapped in different incidents in three different countries over the past few days. Fifteen Christians were killed and two wounded in an attack on Catholics in Essakane, in the Diocese of Dori, Burkina Faso. The attack, which took place on Sunday, 25 February, was carried out by terrorists who …