In a land where walking long distances is usually a sign of distress, an annual pilgrimage for peace is raising questions and changing attitudes. When Pope Francis announced his visit to South Sudan in 2022, young Catholics in the Diocese of Rumbek were naturally excited. “They kept saying they wanted to go and see him,” …
Category archives: Eastern Africa
ACN help is “like the hand of God, saving lives” in Mozambique
A missionary sister who works in the Diocese of Pemba, which is racked by terrorism and still deeply affected by a recent cyclone, thanks Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for the help it provides civilians. Sister Aparecida Queiroz from the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus (photo) arrived in the Diocese of Pemba, …
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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 …
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Mozambique – “What will become of us?”
Cabo Delgado was the area most affected by the fury of Cyclone Chido, which swept through Mozambique in the early hours of Sunday, December 15, after causing destruction in the French archipelago of Mayotte. There are dozens of fatalities and thousands of people asking how they will survive after having lost everything. In an initial …
ACN Success Story: Malawi
New chapels for two remote villages Malawi, a landlocked country of Southern Africa, is among the poorest countries in the world. The parish of Benga lies in the east of the country, close to Lake Malawi, in a region of great poverty. Though only established in 2013, the parish has already witnessed 6,000 baptisms. Still, …
South Sudan: “I pray that all may be one”
Kinga Schiestaedt project coordinator for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Africa, travelled to the landlocked African nation of South Sudan. Bordering the Republic of Sudan, its larger neighbour to the north, South Sudan has suffered terribly from conflict and civil war in recent years. After returning from her trip, Schierstaedt spoke about …
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ACN’s Project of the Week – Mozambique
Strengthening pastoral outreach in the parish of Manica The parish of Our Lady of the Rosary is based in Manica in the Diocese of Chimoio in central western Mozambique. It covers an extensive rural area with a radius of around 70 km and includes 74 smaller villages and hamlets, 58 of which have their own …
Mozambique – Bishop recalls “seven years of death and suffering” in Cabo Delgado
Bishop António Juliasse says Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) continues to be a “friendly hand,” standing by the local Church in times of need and since the beginning of the conflict, which has already killed over 5,000 people and displaced over one million. Seven years after the beginning of the Islamist insurgency, the …
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ACN Project of the Week – Zimbabwe
Mass intentions for priests in the Diocese of Masvingo For the Church, Africa is a continent of hope. Not only is the number of faithful growing, but the number of priests is as well. One in eight priests around the world today comes from the African continent. The priests live their vocation with joy and …