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News of the Suffering and Persecuted
Find the latest updates on the struggles and resilience of persecuted communities around the world. Stay connected to learn how hope continues to shine through suffering.
Mexico: “The hardest thing is telling a child their father was killed,” says Michoacán religious sister
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In one of Mexico’s most dangerous states, the Working Sisters help children who are exposed to violence. With ACN’s support, they also train novices who grew up in difficult environments, preparing them to bring hope to vulnerable communities. “One of our children saw his father be killed,” says Sister Rosalina during an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “We had another case of three children who witnessed the murder of their mother in front of their house. ...
Syria: ACN urges prayers for Aleppo amid escalating violence and fear
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Following a heartfelt plea from a missionary and ACN’s project partner in Aleppo, the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls on all people of faith to unite in prayer for the safety and peace of this war-torn region. In a voice message shared with ACN, Father Hugo Alaniz, IVE, an Argentine missionary, described the dire situation currently unfolding around Aleppo, where extremist groups have launched a surprise offensive. Several villages have been seized, and vital routes, ...
Ukraine: After 1,000 days of war, “people are tired and without hope,” says priest
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Despite the danger, a Brazilian missionary priest has stayed in Ukraine since the start of the war. Father Lucas Perozzi thanks ACN for the help it continues to provide and remains committed to spreading the Gospel. Father Lucas Perozzi found himself in Ukraine when Russia began its full-scale assault on the country in 2022. However, rather than return to his homeland, Brazil, he remained in the country and continues to serve a flock in Kyiv, which, he says, is showing ...
Haiti on the brink: Bishops issue a “cry of alarm” for peace
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In the face of rampant violence, which is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and isolating Haiti from the rest of the world, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti, in a message received by ACN, calls on the government to act and appeals to every Haitian to work for peace and overcome hatred. In response to a catastrophic situation, and the continual deterioration of security in Haiti, the Bishops’ Conference of Haiti issued a “cry of alarm” for peace on November 15th, 2024, in ...
ACN dedicates Christmas campaign to persecuted Christians in Burkina Faso
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Since 2015, Burkina Faso, which is around 25 percent Christian, has become a hotbed of violent Islamist extremism. Since 2019, in particular, priests, religious, and faithful have been increasingly targeted by terrorists. The Christmas campaign of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will focus this year on Christians in this West African country, who are subjected to bloody violence on a daily basis, as well as the heroic work of the Catholic Church, which tirelessly ...
YOUCAT announces new appointments to support evangelization and faith formation worldwide
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The YOUCAT Foundation, based in Königstein, Germany, has announced the appointment of Rafael D’Aqui to the position of Executive Director and Head of Outreach. Two additional key appointments to YOUCAT’s leadership team were also announced: Father Joachim Moernaut, FSO, the new Ecclesiastical Assistant, and Elisabeth Bauer, who will oversee communication and social media. Rafael D’Aqui, an experienced Brazilian missionary and catechist, and a former head of section for the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), with 15 ...





