The Albertine Sisters, supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), have completed a convent and adjacent shelter for homeless women in the Mayorivka district of Lviv, Ukraine. The facility provides housing for forty women, including specialized rooms for those with newborn children. ACN reports that 2,200 displaced people have benefited from direct humanitarian aid since 2020. The project faced delays due to the pandemic and war but remains vital for vulnerable populations. Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki noted the importance of the new chapel. The shelter aims to offer protection and meals to those who have lost everything, particularly women from conflict zones like Donetsk and Mariupol.
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On March 10, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church delivered a message of hope during a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, USA. The event was organized by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to raise awareness about the psychological trauma facing Ukrainian Christians due to the war with Russia. Cardinal Timothy Dolan presided over the celebration, which also included ACN President Regina Lynch and Vatican observer Archbishop Gabriele Caccia. Shevchuk presented symbolic gifts, including shrapnel from a drone attack on his Kyiv residence, to highlight the adversity faced by believers. ACN has allocated over 15 million euros to support Ukraine since the 2022 invasion.
SAT-7, a Christian ecumenical broadcaster, provides vital spiritual support to Christians in Muslim-majority nations. Its CEO stated that the station reaches millions via satellite, offering a safe source of faith where conversion is dangerous. Operating channels in Arabic, Turkish, and Farsi, SAT-7 helps believers maintain their faith secretly. The organization also addresses social issues, such as domestic violence in one country and education gaps in another. Supported by donations from Aid to the Church in Need, SAT-7 promotes Christian unity and bridges with Muslims across the Middle East.
Father Tadeusz Volos stayed in Bucha, Ukraine, during the Russian siege in early 2022. While most residents fled, he visited the elderly and sick hiding in basements and celebrated Mass daily. A BBC journalist recorded his refusal to leave his parishioners. He survived a missile strike that hit a nearby school instead of his church. According to Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada, he continues to live in Bucha two years later, relying on ACN support and Mass stipends to sustain his ministry in the war-torn area near Kyiv.
Monsignor Giovanni Cefai, bishop of Huancane in Peru, describes the severe living conditions in La Rinconada, the world's highest permanently inhabited settlement. Located at 5,100 meters in the Andes, the mining town lacks basic sanitation and suffers from mercury pollution. The diocese aims to reduce reliance on coca and illegal gold mining by promoting local coffee production. Bishop Cefai highlights a shortage of clergy and infrastructure, noting that ACN has funded vehicles to help priests reach isolated communities. The church also supports indigenous languages like Quechua and Aymara to maintain cultural ties while evangelizing the region's 200,000 residents.
Ten Catholic bishops in Haiti issued a message on March 18 urging an end to the country's ongoing violence and calling for national reconciliation. The letter, sent to Aid to the Church in Need, aligns with Pope Francis's recent appeals for peace. The bishops emphasized that violence only breeds more hatred and destruction, hindering Haiti's progress. They requested an inclusive transitional government to restore security, while maintaining the Church's neutrality by not appointing representatives to the presidential council. The statement highlights the severe humanitarian crisis, noting that millions of children need aid and hundreds of thousands are displaced following the 2021 presidential assassination. A prayer day for Haiti is scheduled for March 22.
In Ukraine, seminarians from the Major Seminary of the Three Holy Hierarchs in Knyazhychi, Kiev, share testimonies of resilience amid the ongoing conflict. The article notes that 80% of the population is affected by the war since 2014. Vitaliy, a 28-year-old student, lost his father in 2022 but uses his faith to support others grieving. Roberto, a 23-year-old from Lviv, witnessed deaths among youth he mentored but found meaning in ministering to displaced persons. ACN supports ten seminaries in Ukraine. Father Ruslan Mykhalkiv, rector in Vorzel, thanked ACN for rebuilding their damaged seminary after Russian occupation in 2022, stating God's grace surpasses war horrors. (ACN, March 19, 2024)
According to Aid to the Church in Need, 522 seminarians are currently training in Ukraine despite the ongoing war. Many are young men who have lost fathers or friends in the conflict. The organization reports that these students, studying in rites such as the Greek Catholic and Latin traditions, view the suffering as a reason to deepen their service. Seminarians like Oleh and Roberto stated that the horror has reinforced their desire to serve. Ukrainian bishops remain proud that vocations have not declined. Aid to the Church in Need is providing scholarships to support their education and living costs.
The Christian community in Gaza is enduring its worst conditions since the war began, according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Communications are unreliable, and supplies of food and clean water are critically scarce. The Parish of the Sacred Family in the Al Zeyton neighborhood is sheltering 512 people, including many children and elderly residents. While ACN provides some meals, residents often walk long distances for minimal rations. Health conditions are deteriorating due to malnutrition and lack of medical care. Despite these hardships, clergy and laypeople continue daily masses and trauma support. Sister Nabila stated that the community feels closer to their faith during this difficult Easter period.
On March 3, 2024, Haiti declared a 72-hour emergency following armed attacks on a prison in Port-au-Prince. Archbishop Max Leroy Mésidor told ACN that gang violence severely restricts his pastoral work, blocking access to two-thirds of his diocese. He reported numerous kidnappings of clergy and religious, noting that no area is safe. Despite the danger, the faithful continue to attend services and seek formation. The Archbishop emphasized that the Church relies on external aid to maintain its mission and support seminarians in this unstable environment.
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On International Women's Day, Aid to the Church in Need highlighted Ukrainian women sustaining faith and hope during the ongoing conflict. The organization noted that with many men fighting, women face immense emotional burdens, including raising children alone and coping with the loss of husbands. Testimonies from Lviv and Kyiv describe widows and soldiers' wives finding strength through military chaplains and support centers like the House of Mercy. Religious sisters also provide shelter for displaced persons and emphasize prayer as a vital defense. ACN continues to intensify its aid to the Ukrainian Church and its population since the 2022 invasion.
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Armed men attacked a Catholic church in a village in northern Burkina Faso during Mass. Local diocese officials reported at least 15 deaths, with twelve victims killed at the scene and three others dying later in a local clinic. Two additional people were injured. According to Aid to the Church in Need, the attack highlights the worsening security situation in the Sahel region, where Christians are frequently targeted by extremist groups. This violence has severely impacted religious freedom and daily life in the country.
According to Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada, 80% of Ukraine's population is directly affected by the ongoing conflict. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, more than 6.3 million people have fled the country, while over 5 million remain internally displaced. The Ukrainian Catholic Church, led by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, reports widespread trauma and seeks spiritual and material support. Data from the World Health Organization confirms over 1,300 attacks on health centers and significant mental health issues among residents. Infrastructure damage is severe, with 60% of the electrical grid destroyed. The organization highlights the urgent need for aid to help the traumatized population cope with the war's devastating consequences.
A bishop in Burkina Faso reports that ongoing terrorist attacks have triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. Following a recent massacre in a local diocese where twelve people were killed, the bishop explains that armed groups impose radical Islamic rules, close schools, and restrict Christian worship. Thousands have fled their villages for safer towns, relying on church and state aid. Despite the violence, the bishop notes that local faith has strengthened, though some return to traditional practices due to poverty. He praises government efforts while highlighting the Church's role in providing charity and support to displaced populations.
In his March video message, Pope Francis honored Christian martyrs, describing their courage as a blessing for all. The video, promoted by the Pope’s Prayer Network and supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), highlighted specific stories of persecution. Francis recounted the murder of a woman in a European country who refused to discard a crucifix. The message also referenced a Pakistani martyr who died preventing a terrorist attack. ACN noted that 22% of Christians live in countries where religious freedom is not respected, citing incidents in various regions. ACN president Regina Lynch emphasized the need to protect religious liberty as a fundamental human right.
Pakistan's Supreme Court dismissed a government report on the authorities' response to recent attacks in a Punjab city. The court criticized the lack of relevant information and slow progress in prosecuting perpetrators. Bishop Samson Shukardin welcomed this decision as a positive step for justice. The attacks, described as the worst against Christians in the country, involved the burning of over 25 churches. The court ordered a new report within two weeks, warning officials of suspension if investigations remain inadequate. This ruling addresses widespread community distrust in local police handling of minority violence.
The Catholic Church in Ukraine has initiated a comprehensive program across all dioceses to address psychological trauma caused by the ongoing war. The initiative trains priests, religious, teachers, and laypeople to provide psycho-spiritual care to widows, orphans, and soldiers returning from the front. Father Oleg Salomon, a chaplain in Lviv, highlights the difficulty of this work as clergy listen to deep grief. The program also operates in conflict zones like Donbas and Kharkiv. Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk emphasizes that faith and forgiveness are essential for healing the nation's wounds, urging the faithful to resist hatred. (Source: Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada)
An ACN team visited Kiev and Lviv in Ukraine, observing the profound trauma affecting the population two years after the Russian invasion. Archbishop Sviatoslav Schevchuk stated that everyone is traumatized by the conflict, which has left many with physical and psychological wounds. Churches have become places for mourning and healing as the majority of the population suffers from loss and stress. The archbishop emphasized that the future of the country depends on addressing this collective trauma and urged the international community not to forget those suffering in the ongoing war.
On World Radio Day, Aid to the Church in Need highlighted its support for Catholic radio projects. In 2023, the foundation provided over 340,000 euros to 16 initiatives worldwide. In Mozambique, ACN aided a radio station in a northern region, replacing one destroyed by jihadist violence to serve displaced communities. In Bulgaria, ACN supported the inauguration of a radio station in the capital. A bishop stated the station fulfills a dream, offering spiritual and cultural programming to the local population. These outlets provide essential information and evangelization in challenging contexts.
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