JOURNEY WITH ACN is our Friday our weekly newsletter regularly posted to our blog and designed to acquaint you with the needs of the Catholic Church around the world – and various projects we have helped to bring into being together with ACN benefactors.

This week :  The Synod for bishops on the family in Rome

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This week, we would like to present you with projects ACN supported  of a family pastoral work nature, in the framework of the the Synod for bishops on the family in Rome taking place until October 19th. 

India

Support for the programs of the Madhya Pradesh Regional Commission for Family and Laity

The Regional Commission for Family and Laity organizes regular training programs in Sagar, one of the major cities in the heart of the central Indian province of Madhya Pradesh, not far from the state capital Bhopal. The focus of these programs is one of pastoral and spiritual guidance for families and lay people in the nine dioceses of the state of Madhya Pradesh. ACN is supporting them with a contribution 3,600 Euros ( a little more than $5,000 CND).

INDIA / MADHYA PRADESH 14/ 08

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Philippines

Catechesis for families

For 20 years now, the diocese of Tagbilaran has been providing a guidance program  for young people and married couples to apply in their everyday lives. More than 10,000 students are taking part in these catechist-led courses, which are aimed at encouraging young people to explore their relationship with God, the Church and their own faith and to discuss such issues as AIDS, drugs and the protection of innocent life. ACN is supporting the training of the catechists with a contribution of 15,000 Euros (Approximately $21,000 CND).

PHILIPPINES/TAGBILARAN 12/193

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Sri Lanka

Counselling for families in the diocese of Jaffna

The 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka has left behind it thousands traumatized  and some 80,000 widows. “We hear stories of rape, abuse, divorce, separation, alcohol and drug addiction, abortions, neglected children, thefts and robberies and other kinds of vices,” writes one Jesuit priest to ACN. Since 1993, the diocese of Jaffna has been actively involved in the work of supporting and strengthening families, including among other things marriage preparation courses and marriage counselling. Every year some 1,800 families visit the diocesan counselling centre. ACN is supporting the work of the family counselling program with a contribution of 6,500 Euros (approximately $9,200 CND)

SRI LANKA / JAFFNA 14/ 133

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Russia

Congress on the “Domestic Church”

To mark the 50th anniversary of the second Vatican Council the Russian bishops’ conference in Kazan has for the first time organized a congress around the theme of “The Family – Domestic Church.” ACN has helped with a contribution of 18,000 Euros ( a little over $25,000 CND). The program, which includes talks by first class speakers, group work, discussion sessions, meetings and liturgy, is addressed to the laity and to priests and religious who are engaged in the family apostolate. The 113 participants from all the dioceses – including all four Catholic bishops of Russia and the papal nuncio – were inspired by the congress. Now there are to be three more congresses, in the future, on the subject of the family.

Russia/ National 14/860

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