Father Alphonsus Afina was kidnapped on Sunday, June 1, in the Diocese of Maiduguri. The auxiliary bishop of Maiduguri, Nigeria, has called for urgent prayers for one of his priests who was kidnapped by jihadist terrorists. In a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need – International (ACN), Bishop John Bogna Bakeni said …
Continue reading “Bishop calls for prayers as priest is kidnapped by jihadists in Nigeria”
Despite the very difficult conditions in Syria at the moment, and fear about the future, Archbishop Jacques Mourad believes that the lifting of sanctions will bring new hope. (Banner: December 2024, people in the streets of Aleppo after the downfall of El-Assad’s regime.) The situation in Syria continues to be one of severe poverty and …
Continue reading ““The people of Syria live without dignity or trust””
In Lebanon, religious sisters are helping impoverished families recover from the latest devastating war More than six months since the ceasefire came into effect, after yet another devastating war in Lebanon, the Church is still suffering the aftermath of the intense bombardment and resulting mass displacement. Religious sisters are doing everything they can to provide …
Continue reading “Lebanon – Religious sisters support the population”
Former fellow missionary recalls Pope Leo’s dedication to the poor and suffering Pope Leo XIV served in Peru during a difficult period, when the Augustinians were under threat from terrorists and the population was struggling. “He made sure the poor were treated with dignity,” says Fr. Lydon. Pope Leo XIV is “going to hear the …
“I was the pope’s altar server in Chiclayo. Now I promote ACN in Peru”Hello, my name is Santiago, and a few years ago I was an altar server in the parish of Saint Martin of Porres, Chiclayo, and I had the blessing of personally meeting the man who is now Pope Leo XIV. (On the …
The Church of the Assumption was looted in 2019 and set ablaze in 2020. Some stories do have happy endings. On November 8, 2019, during a wave of street protests, several hooded people looted the 143-year-old Church of the Assumption, one of the oldest in Santiago de Chile. The looters made off with artwork and …
Continue reading “ACN helps rebuild Church burned down during street protests”
Two motors to support pastoral work in Guapi The Apostolic Vicariate of Guapi lies in the far south-west of Colombia, near the Pacific Ocean. The population here is mainly a mixture of Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Peoples. There is extreme poverty and widespread violence, and ever since the 1980s, illegal drug growing and trafficking have flourished, …
The Sisters of Charity of Cardinal Sancha occupy a special place in the hearts of many Cubans who know they can count on the “Sanchinas” when they need help. The congregation was founded on the island in 1869 to help the disabled and poor children. Over time, they extended their reach to cover education, support …
Continue reading “Cuban religious help care for families and the sick amid crisis”
Dozens Killed, Priests Targeted, in Nigeria’s Middle Belt A series of brutal attacks on communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt have left at least 36 people dead, with several others injured or abducted, according to reports received by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) from the Diocese of Makurdi. The wave of …
In a historic meeting, Pope Leo XIV received representatives from the Eastern Catholic Churches in an audience, during the pilgrimage of sui iuris Churches, as part of the Jubilee of Hope. The pope made a strong and deeply spiritual speech to the gathered Church leaders, which was received as a spark of hope amid different …
Continue reading “Meeting with Pope Leo XIV: A new hope for the Eastern Churches”
