Two religious sisters, Vincentia Nwankwo and Grace Okoli, were abducted last Tuesday, January 7th, in Anambra State, in southeastern Nigeria. They belong to the congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ, which has appealed to all the faithful, through a statement sent to Aid to the Church in Need International, to pray for their “unconditional release.”  Sister Vincentia María, the principal of Archbishop Charles Heerey Memorial Model Secondary School Ufuma, and Sister Grace Mariette, ...

The tragic death of Suleman Masih, a 24-year-old Christian, has shocked the local community and once again highlighted the challenges faced by Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan. Suleman was attacked on December 29th, 2024 in Kot Saadullah, Rahawali, Gujranwala, and succumbed to his injuries on January 1st, 2025.  According to information provided to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) by the Pakistani priest, Father Lazar Aslam, OFM, Suleman Masih was a very hardworking and ...

Just over a year after extremists murdered more than 300 people in coordinated attacks on Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria, the faithful gathered for a special Mass to remember the victims last Sunday, January 5th.  Bishop Michael Gobal Gokum of Pankshin celebrated the Epiphany Mass at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bokkos for all those killed in their homes and on their farms on Christmas Eve 2023. Father Andrew Dewan, director of communications in Pankshin Diocese, told ...

Gang violence, forced migration, and poverty continue to plague Haiti. The Bishop of Fort-Liberté, Quesnel Alphonse, tells ACN about looting by gangs, the growing influence of Islam, and the trauma of a population that “feels completely lost.“ Haiti is experiencing a very difficult time, marked by an increase in gang violence and a collapse of basic services. Would you say that the situation is getting worse?  Definitely, yes. If I had to pick a word to describe the situation, I’d ...

Despite the widespread terrorism increasingly affecting Burkina Faso, and though priests and catechists are the main targets among pastoral agents, the country has seen a growth in priestly vocations in recent years. Supporting these future priests in their formation is one of ACN’s priorities.  For most people, Christmas is a time of family reunions, but this is not the case for many seminarians in Burkina Faso. Because of the serious security crisis caused by terrorism, some must forego joining their ...

In Lahore, Pakistan, where Christians make up a small minority of a predominantly Muslim society, Christmas takes on a special meaning. Despite significant challenges and restrictions, the Christian community continues to celebrate the birth of Christ with deep faith.   Father Lazar Aslam, a Franciscan Capuchin Priest, has served the faithful in Pakistan for years, offering pastoral care and spiritual guidance in a time of great adversity. In this interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Father Lazar shares ...