Syria-Ten years after his abduction, Bishop Hanna Jallouf remains a shepherd close to his flock

As the bishop of Latin rite Catholics in Syria, the Franciscan Hanna Jallouf is very familiar with the situation in Idlib Governorate, the last rebel stronghold, where he served as a pastor for 22 years until his appointment as bishop in September 2023. In a conversation with an Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) …

Ewelina Ochab urges: “The day can help to educate, but action is needed.”

Fifth anniversary of the International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. (Cover photo: The Night of the Witness 2022 in Canberra, Australia). 22 August 2024 marks the fifth anniversary of the International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, established by the United Nation (UN) General Assembly in …

“The light of faith and the witness of the Gospel can shine again.”

Darayya, Syria Fifteen Catholic families are able to return to the Christian quarter of a suburb of Damascus thanks to the reconstruction of their homes with the help of ACN. This will secure the Christian presence in the place where, according to various Christian traditions, the conversion of the Apostle Paul occurred.  An elderly couple …

ACN approves massive solar panel package

In Lebanon and Syria, these projects will help the Church face the electricity crisis As the world celebrates the 30th anniversary of World Sun Day on May 3, and to underscore the importance of renewable energy resources, international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is highlighting how solar panels are making a …

Near-East-Fighting to ensure that the testimony of Jesus Christ lives on

For years, Syria and Lebanon have witnessed a steady haemorrhaging of their Christian populations. Through its engagement in multiple projects, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is actively campaigning against the exodus of Christians. “I would like to get out of Syria as quickly as possible and join my father in the Netherlands, where …

ACN – Earthquake in Syria: More than $1.82 million of funding

Speaking one year after the terrible earthquake that affected Syria and Turkey, Xavier Stephen Bisits, ACN’s head of section for Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt, summed up the impact of the natural disaster: “February 6 was a turning point in the life of most families in Northern Syria. I will never forget the scenes in the …

Syria: “The situation is intolerable”

On the first anniversary of the earthquake, a bishop in Aleppo calls for an end to sanctions and appeals to people not to forget the country. The Armenian Orthodox bishop of Aleppo in Syria, Magar Ashkarian, has called for an end to the sanctions imposed on Syria, saying “most people are leaving the country in …

Syria: Milad means Christmas

How a little ray of hope brightened the darkness for a family in Damascus during Christmas Even the faces of the seven children look sad and serious. Somewhat tense, they sit next to their parents on the worn-out sofa. The living room is surrounded by bare, light brown walls from which the plaster is crumbling …

Middle East: When you can’t find joy, create it.

To celebrate this Christmas, ACN is providing 45,000 gifts to needy children in Syria and Lebanon. This year, 35,000 children in Syria and 10,000 in Lebanon will receive Christmas presents in the form of urgently needed clothing. Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is sending close to $700,000 to these two countries, …

“Continue to be generous!” 

Press Release Aid to the Church in Need’s Christmas Campaign 2023 Since December 2nd, the Canadian office of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been in the midst of its Christmas campaign, and the generosity of benefactors has been overwhelming. “I’m always moved by the generosity of our benefactors towards their sisters and …