Albania – Two more priests beatified

Two Albanian martyrs, Fr. Luigi Paliq and Fr. Gjon Gazulli, have been declared Blessed by the Catholic Church, during a ceremony held on Saturday, November 16, in the city of Shkodër. “These two men were libelled and unjustly harassed, but their witness of forgiveness and love in the face of their persecutors made them examples …

Red Wednesday, From Coast to Coast

Montreal, November 19, 2024 – Red Wednesday (Mercredi Rouge) will take place tomorrow from coast to coast. To help you better understand this international event, here is some additional information. Event Description: In Canada A map of activities related to Red Wednesday is available on the event’s home page at: www.acn-canada.org/rw. While this non-exhaustive list …

Bangladesh: Radicalization driving discrimination and attacks against Christians

With Islamist groups gaining more political influence in Bangladesh, Church sources are increasingly concerned about the treatment of Christians and ongoing attacks on Catholic schools. Christians often struggle to find work, church construction projects are delayed, and the future of Catholic schools is under threat, according to a Church source who wished to remain anonymous …

Red Wednesday, from coast to coast!

Many loyal followers and supporters are getting ready to commemorate Red Wednesday across Canada. Here’s a (partial) list showing the enthusiasm for this unique international event! You will find below the names of participating parishes, as well as dioceses and organizations promoting the event. How about you?Will you be taking part in Red Wednesday?Will you …

Persecution of Christians has worsened across the globe

New Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) report Press release – For Immediate Release Montreal/Königstein, November 12, 2024 – According to a new report published in Canada today, the persecution of Christians has worsened considerably in most of the countries surveyed. Persecuted and Forgotten? provides a global and regional analysis, examining the situation of …

Burkina Faso: Priest calls for prayer after three new terrorist attacks

The Diocese of Fada N’Gourma has been shaken by new terrorist attacks in the parishes of Piéla and Saatenga, in the east of the country, causing many deaths and significant material destruction. These attacks form part of a pattern of terrorist violence which has been intensifying in the country since 2015. “The attacks are multiplying. …

November Marks Red Wednesday!

Press Release – For Immediate Release On November 20, Aid to the Church in Need Canada (ACN) will observe Red Wednesday, an international event during which churches and other prominent buildings will be illuminated in red. This colour symbolizes the blood of Christian martyrs and enables ACN to shed light on the fact that many …

Burkina Faso: Terrorists carry out brutal massacre over three days

In early October, terrorists killed at least 150 people, including many Christians, in northeastern Burkina Faso, revealing their increasing brutality and determination to spread terror in a country where insurgents now control over half of the territory. On Sunday, October 6, 2024, a new terrorist attack took place in the town of Manni in the …

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) …

Pakistan: Christian woman sentenced to death

Shagufta Kiran, mother of four, to appeal conviction A Christian mother of four in Pakistan has been sentenced to death for allegedly sharing blasphemous messages on WhatsApp. But legal advocates, supported by a leading Catholic charity, have vowed to appeal the conviction. Former nurse Shagufta Kiran, 40, was sentenced to death on Wednesday, September 18 …