Life is not easy for Christians in Honduras, who must deal with criminal gangs, poverty, and a shortage of vocations. Veronica Katz, head of section for Central America at the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), recently visited the country and says that the fruits of pastoral work and the commitment …
Continue reading “Honduras: “Communities that used to kill each other now pray together””
A groundbreaking formation for catechists is set to begin on the island of Mindanao, in the spirit of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, which marks its 40th anniversary this year. The island has been plagued by interreligious violence and tension for decades, spearheaded by Islamist militant groups. Dozens of catechists will come together to attend a …
Continue reading “Philippines – Strengthening the faith of Catholics in Mindanao”
An Irish missionary tells Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about the love that the Peruvian people have for Our Lady and how Protestant sects take advantage of the shortage of priests in the country to aggressively convince Catholics to leave the Church. “Oh Father, thanks for visiting. I need to speak to you.” …
Continue reading “Peru – Genaro, an example of faith and love for Our Lady!”
A young priest speaks of the challenges and joys in bringing the sacraments to the most isolated communities in the Colombian Amazon. Father Jonathas Fernandes is only 33, but he already has an impressive resume as a missionary. He was only a child, in his native Brazil, when he felt a calling to the priesthood: …
Hundreds of children have been kidnapped from schools across Nigeria over the past years, but fortunately the latest attack on a catholic school was foiled and nobody was killed or abducted. The quick thinking of a headteacher helped save the lives of sleeping students after armed extremists stormed a secondary school in Nigeria’s Middle Belt …
Continue reading “Nigeria – Heroic staff save pupils as gunmen attack Catholic school at night”
A brave Catholic seminarian who spent his pastoral placement ministering in India’s remote, cobra-infested jungle has been ordained last Sunday. Then Deacon Santosh Kumar has been ministering in the parish Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Kalapahad, North Andaman, where parishioners regularly walk 6 km through dangerous forests to attend Sunday Mass. But Deacon Kumar and …
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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 …
Continue reading ““The light of faith and the witness of the Gospel can shine again.””
A jihadist captive turned 21 today (May 14th), six years after being abducted from her school in Nigeria and held hostage for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. (Cover photo: during a protest in 2018, a banner to request Leah’s liberation). On her birthday, a pastor close to Leah Sharibu’s family called on the Nigerian …
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Subsistence aid for three religious sisters The congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Divine Providence was founded in Nigeria in the year 2000. The sisters visit the sick and elderly in their homes, caring for them and bringing them Holy Communion. They also support families and women with practical help and advice and are active …
Human rights violations are widespread in Burundi, a small country which borders the much larger Democratic Republic of the Congo. For years, the country has been largely isolated from the outside world. Recently, the Burundian bishops drew attention to the country’s plight, which goes largely unnoticed by the general public. For decades, Burundi – a …
