February 24, 2024, marked the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Like the whole population, the seminarians are exhausted by this war. But uplifted by hope, they want to be a sign of God’s presence where they are. The seminarians, scarred by the war but matured by their faith, give many testimonies. They …
Continue reading “Ukraine: “The grace of the Lord is greater than the horror of war””
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be joining the day of prayer on March 22 for the people of Haiti. In a message dated March 18, the Catholic bishops of Haiti expressed profound concern about the violence that is sweeping the country. The letter, which was sent to international Catholic charity Aid to …
Subsistence aid for 30 religious sisters The Diocese of Cajazeiras lies in the northeast of Brazil, widely regarded as one of the poorest regions in the country. It is a region afflicted by severe droughts, and the people of this very rural area are for the most part very poor. Not surprisingly, the diocese also …
Support for the Benedictine sisters in Parakou The Benedictine convent of Notre-Dame de l’Écoute was founded in 2005 in the Diocese of Natitingou, in the north of Benin. Originally, all the sisters were from France, but there are now also African sisters, and there are more young women from Benin interested in sharing the Benedictine …
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, the Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency after armed gangs stormed the national prison in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Haiti is sinking deeper and deeper into chaos. Pastoral life is seriously affected by the violence and the frequent kidnappings, but the faithful are braving the dangers to live their …
Continue reading “Haitian Archbishop: “Our people are a people who want to live””
The Christian community in Gaza is facing the most difficult period since the beginning of the war. Phone lines are cut and online communications are continuously disconnecting. One can hardly understand what Sister Nabila is trying to say: “quite,” “well,” “Church”… then the line goes dead, and that is how things have been for the …
Continue reading ““It is a very special Easter; we are closer than ever to the crucified Saviour.””
Central African Republic On February 23, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Father Aurelio Gazzera, a long-time friend and partner of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Bangassou, in the Central African Republic. The 61-year-old Italian Carmelite priest has already worked for 33 years as a missionary in the country, …
Continue reading “A shepherd defending his sheep from danger”
Women: a crucial support in Ukraine On International Women’s Day, international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) highlights all the brave wives, sisters, mothers, and religious who are helping keep faith and hope alive in war-torn Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is not only an assault on an independent nation, struggling to …
A vehicle for the Holy Family Sisters in Gojra The Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux first came to Pakistan nearly 50 years ago. Today this congregation, founded in France in the 19th century, has 32 religious sisters working in almost all the Pakistani dioceses. They help the priests in the parishes, support the …
“The courage of the martyrs, the witness of the martyrs, is a blessing for everyone,” the Holy Father reflects in The Pope Video for March. This video is being promoted by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, produced in collaboration with Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which support Christians wherever they are …
