“Six hundred and ninety-eight, six hundred and ninety-nine, seven hundred.” Mathieu passes pebbles from one side to another. Seven hundred in all, one for each of the Hail Marys he has prayed that night. A night which to him feels like the evening in Gethsemane, in the Garden of Olives, where Jesus also felt alone, …
Category archives: Interview
Rwanda: “If we lose the young people, we lose society”
Bishop Papias Musengamana of the Diocese of Byumba in Northwest Rwanda recently visited the international headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). He tells the pontifical charity how his diocese recovered from the almost complete absence of priests after the 1994 genocide and speaks about the meaning of pastoral work with families and …
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Beyond the Breathtaking Beaches: the Church on the Dominican Border
In December 2024, Verónica Katz, project director for Central America at international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), visited the dioceses on the Dominican side of the border with Haiti. In this interview, she shares her experience in the less visible areas of the Dominican Republic. When people think of the Dominican …
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In Lebanon, religious sisters help vulnerable girls rebuild their lives.
Sr. Marie: “We have seen plenty of improvement in these girls. They find meaning, and they can face the challenges life has for them.” On International Women’s Day, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) spoke to Sister Marie Akl, a religious from the Congregation of the Good Shepherd, about her valuable work in the …
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The rebirth of the Catholic Church in Estonia
After centuries of prohibition, the small Catholic community of Estonia is returning from the ashes. On September 26, 2024, Pope Francis erected the first diocese in the country. On November 1 of the same year, during an address to the Catholic Church of Estonia to mark the centenary of the creation of its first apostolic …
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Cameroon: It’s not weapons which will defeat Boko Haram, but education and hope
The diocese of Maroua-Mokolo in the Far North Region of Cameroon has suffered sporadic attacks from Boko-Haram. Msgr. Bruno Ateba shares with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) his hope for the future through spiritual and educational formation programs, especially for young people and families. He also explains the importance of translating the Bible …
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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. …
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“Never take the freedom to express your faith for granted”
Message of a Pakistani Priest for Christmas In Lahore, Pakistan, where Christians make up only a small minority in a predominantly Muslim society, Christmas takes on a special meaning. Despite facing significant challenges and restrictions, the Christian community continues to celebrate the birth of Christ with deep faith. Father Lazar Aslam, a Franciscan Capuchin priest, …
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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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Interview — “God was with me in this struggle.”
Unjustly imprisoned for eight years in Pakistan Shagufta Kausar was falsely accused of blasphemy. For almost eight years she was separated from her family, her husband was beaten and tortured, and they were pressured to convert to Islam. Now free, she tells in an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) how she …
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