The Catholic Church in Mauritania is in a unique position: there are no Mauritanian Christians, and the entire Catholic community is made up of foreigners and expats. In this context, the Church’s presence is very limited, with only two priests and one bishop, but its mission remains clear: to bear witness to the love of God for everybody, Christians and Muslims alike. Fr. Edmond Théodore is originally from Senegal, but he lives and works in Mauritania and recently visited the ...

From October 1 to 7, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is inviting children, families, schools, and parishes around the world to take part in “One Million Children Praying the Rosary.” This year, the initiative will unfold as a worldwide week of prayer, beginning with a vigil in Rome on October 1 and culminating on October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. From communities in the Bolivian Amazon to parishes in Sudan, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Sierra ...

Two months after an earthquake rendered their church unusable, 62 youths from a small mountain community in Venezuela received the sacrament of confirmation in a celebration held outdoors. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Pablo Modesto González Pérez of La Guaira andtook place in the square in front of the Church of Our Lady of Candelaria, in the village of Tarmas. The altar was set up near the damaged church building, and the members of the congregation occupied the ...

Christian schools in Jerusalem announced the suspension of classes on September 1, 2026, due to the non-renewal of entry permits into the city for dozens of members of their staff. The strike was supposed to be indefinite, but was called off after one day, after Israeli authorities renewed some of the permits. In a statement sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the headmaster of the Collège des Frères in Jerusalem warns of the consequences of this situation ...

Church building that ACN supported three years ago was intact in midst of destruction, thanks to John Smith’s insistence that it follow building codes. Two months after twin earthquakes in Venezuela caused thousands of deaths and left a trail of destruction, an American engineer named John Smith stood inside a parish rectory that, he said, “didn’t have a crack in it.” All around the rectory, sadly, homes, offices and schools had been reduced to rubble by the 7.5 and 7.2 ...

ACN continues to accompany the Church in Nigeria in its efforts to counteract the effects of endemic violence and its appeals for peace. The Catholic bishops of Nigeria have issued a passionate appeal for peace, following recent massacres in the regions of Borgu and Ukum. Dozens of people were killed in the attacks, which are unrelated. In the case of Borgu, suspicion falls on jihadist militants, whereas in the case of Ukum, the attackers are believed to be armed gangs ...