The ACN Journal provides the latest news about Aid to the Church in Need and our work protecting the rights of Christians and supporting the suffering and persecuted Church.
Two women were shot dead by snipers in the church grounds of the Catholic Holy Family parish in Gaza City on December 16, according to a press release by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, sent to the international charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Seven other people were injured. On the same day, several projectiles hit the convent of the Missionaries of Charity, which is in the same compound and housed more than 50 people with disabilities.
Read MoreThe head of the Catholic Church in Ukraine met with Aid to the Church in Need to discuss the country's challenges.
Read MoreChristmas can be a difficult time for poor families who cannot buy gifts for their children. In Lebanon, an ACN-funded project aims to provide gifts for poor families and bring joy and hope to families.
Read MoreThis year, 35,000 children in Syria and 10,000 in Lebanon will receive Christmas presents and urgently needed clothing. Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is sending over half a million euros to these two countries to bring joy to the children on Christmas Eve and show them they are not forgotten.
Read MoreAs the war rages on, ACN helps save lives in the Holy Land.
Read MoreWith the support of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Academy of Catholic Leaders aims to train people to assume political responsibilities.
Read MoreDuring an interview at the international headquarters of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga from the Diocese of Bangui spoke about the attitude that a Christian must have in the face of suffering as well as towards brothers in need. He also shared his experiences of the Synod on Synodality, which took place in Rome this October.
Read MoreDuring a conversation with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Marco Antonio Cortez of the Diocese of Tacna y Moquegua, Peru, spoke about projects related to religious communities and the need to reach everyone in a country where the lack of vocations and missionaries is a constant concern, especially in the more remote regions.
Read MoreA bomb detonated on Sunday, 3 December, during a Catholic mass in the Public University of Mindanao, in the city of Marawi, in southern Philippines. Local sources say that the explosion took the lives of at least four faithful, leaving over 40 injured. The attack was claimed from Islamabad by a group affiliated with the Islamic State.
Read MoreMargaret Attah, who lost both her legs in an attack on a church in western Nigeria, travelled to London to receive the award, presented by the UK Office of Aid to the Church in Need.
Read MoreFr Ha-Jo was aware of the risks to his safety by continuing to work in Mali. Still, he persisted, driven by a desire to improve the situation for the country overall and to remain with his small Christian community. Hans-Joachim Lohre, known affectionately as Fr Ha-Jo, disappeared in Bamako, Mali, on 20 November 2022. He had over 30 years of experience in Mali. His car was found abandoned, and the cross he normally carried was on the floor.
Read MoreIn March 2023, Fr Jacques Mourad, a former hostage of Islamist terrorists, was appointed Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs in Syria. Recently, he hosted a delegation from the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and spoke about his country's current challenges, forgiveness, and a trusting dedication to God.
Read MoreA decade-and-a-half ago Archbishop Sebastian Shaw found much scepticism and little interest in dialogue from Muslim leaders. After years of building trust, he says that the Islamic leaders themselves are now taking the initiative to speak up for persecuted Christians.
Read More“The people are hungry for God.” Ten years after its creation, a neighbourhood named after Hugo Chávez finally has a parish church.
Read MoreTerrorists have forced the Christian population of Débé in Burkina Faso to leave their village. Earlier, they shot dead two scouts in the village church who resisted their orders. Bishop Prosper B. Ky reported this incident during a visit to the international headquarters of the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
Read MoreCardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga tours his war-torn country, where some young people find it difficult to lay down their weapons and find their way back to school. On his travels to the ‘margins’, which are particularly close to the heart of Pope Francis, the cardinal feels the pulse of an abandoned population. During his visit to the headquarters of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) he spoke about the situation in his country and the need for education of young people.
Read MoreACN Executive President urges that conflict not be forgotten. Almost three years after the military coup of February 2021, Myanmar rebels have launched a major offensive. Following the recent coordinated offensive, known as Operation 1027, which started in Shan state, fighting has also intensified in various areas including the Sagaing region as well Chin and Kayah States, causing widespread violence and displacement.
Read MoreA project supported by ACN has been bearing fruit in southwest Nigeria, where Christian and Muslim leaders work together to promote peace in Osun State. This Catholic-led project is making a difference in a country that is otherwise known for interreligious conflict and persecution of Christians.
Read MoreIn Nigeria, the kidnapping of clergy and religious figures has sadly become a frequent occurrence, often barely making headlines. Despite most victims being eventually released, the situation has evolved into a profitable venture for criminals, instilling a perpetual state of fear among the Catholic community.
Read More
