ACN - Aid to the Church in Need

20/08/2026

Christians in Marawi in the southern Philippines are still living in fear, insecurity and anxiety nine years after their church was desecrated and destroyed by extremist groups affiliated with the Islamic State.

Their new Cathedral of St Thomas de Villanueva, built in Maria Cristina, Balo-i, will be a symbol of hope, resilience and unity in a region deeply affected by conflict.

The Cathedral will not only serve as a place for prayer and worship, but as a pastoral centre for faith formation, community outreach and interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.

Help us reach our goal to support this poor but faithful community build their new Cathedral.

Support our Asia-Pacific neighbours today with a matched offering: https://aidtochurch.org/monthlyproject

18/08/2026

ACN is in constant contact with bishops of affected areas following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck much of western and central Colombia, killing at least 265 people.

Several parishes who had invested time, money and resources to renovate churches, presbyteries and other church buildings have had their hard work destroyed, a set back that means, for many, "starting over, almost from scratch."

A pre-school run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Spirit in the Diocese of Quibdó has been left without a roof.

As in so many disaster situations, the Church is one of the first places of refuge for affected communities.

Some churches, despite suffering damage, have opened their doors to serve as collection centres where volunteers ranging from children to elderly women sort through aid sent from neighbouring dioceses.

Between crumbled walls and collapsed roofs, priests are bringing Christ to their communities through the celebration of the Eucharist.

Your gift today provides emergency relief for those affected by the earthquake and supports dioceses maintain their humanitarian and pastoral work.

We offer our prayers to the Church in Colombia and for everyone affected by this earthquake.

Please make a generous offering today by visiting https://aidtochurch.org/colombia-earthquake

11/08/2026

Religious persecution became a harsh reality for Christians in the city of Marawi in the southern Philippines in 2017.

The Cathedral of St Mary was one of the first sites targeted during a five-month siege by extremist groups affiliated with the Islamic State.

The church was completely destroyed and desecrated, including all sculptures, statues of Our Lady and crucifixes.

This month, we are supporting the rebuilding of the Cathedral of St Thomas de Villanueva in in Maria Cristina, Balo-i, which will serve as a living testament to the enduring faith of the community.

A gift of $350, which will be matched, can provide new church pews for worshippers.

Will you help peace and faith flourish once again?

Make your matched gift today by visiting https://aidtochurch.org/monthlyproject

06/08/2026

Today, we said farewell to Steven Buhagiar, who has helped ACN bring Christ into hearts and homes by managing That Catholic Shop for the last five years.

Steve’s passion, conviction and dedication were honoured with Mass celebrated by Ecclesiastical Assistant, Fr Pawel Barszczewski OP, followed by a morning tea.

We thank Steve for the legacy that he leaves – grateful that all of his work has contributed to the mission of ACN in highlighting the plight of persecuted Christians.

We pray that God and Our Blessed Mother continue to be with him and his family as he takes his next steps in life.

04/08/2026

In 2017, the Cathedral of St Mary in Marawi in the southern Philippines was destroyed as violent extremist groups affiliated with the Islamic State laid siege to the town.

Nineyears on, there is a growing desire for healing, reconciliation and to rebuild.

The new cathedral of St Thomas de Villanueva in Maria Cristina, Balo-i, will serve as a symbol of hope, resilience and unity for the Christian community living in a region that is predominately Muslim.

Thanks to generous benefactors, all offerings to the Cathedral project will be matched, meaning your offering will go twice as far.

Let us help the Church on our doorstep so that healing, peace and faith can flourish again.

Make your matched gift today by visiting https://aidtochurch.org/monthlyproject

04/08/2026

Today is the feast day of St John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, known for his deep devotion to the Church and his dedication to the sacrament of confession.

In 2025, with the support of generous benefactors, ACN was able to help:

• 40,207 priests receive a regular wage and continue to celebrate the sacraments through Mass stipends such as those in Lebanon and India.

• 13,368 seminarians undergo formation to become future shepherds of Christ such as those in Burkina Faso and Colombia.

• Support church-led youth programs for Syriac Catholics in Iraq.

• Offer retreats and rehabilitation courses for war-affected families in Ukraine.

• Provide motorbikes for the pastoral work of priests in Bangladesh.

With your support, thousands of priests around the world can follow in St John Vianney’s footsteps in bringing Christ to their communities.

We thank God for their constant ‘yes’, even in difficult circumstances, and pray that they know Christ walks alongside them in their ministry.

St John Vianney – pray for us! 🙏

30/07/2026

YOUR IMPACT: A new vehicle for remote Central African Republic parish

In the northwest of the Central African Republic, Italian Carmelite Father Marco Poggi serves the parish of St Michael, in Bozoum - a vast, underdeveloped area where most people live in great poverty.

Fr Marco asked our help for an urgently needed all-terrain vehicle able to travel extreme distances, cross rickety bridges and along dirt roads transformed during the rainy season into mud.

Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we have been able to find the funds needed for the new vehicle.

"It is not simply a vehicle that you have provided us with; rather your help has made it possible for thousands of people to find new hope, receive the Sacraments, access vital medical supplies, receive an education and experience the concrete reality of our presence among them," Fr Marco said.

"Every kilometre we can now drive, will likewise be the result of your generosity."

Help priests like Fr Marco reach their remote communities: https://aidtochurch.org/projects/transport-for-pastoral-care

17/07/2026

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged more than 700 young people who lived through Iraq’s jihadist occupation to be the light of the world.

In a video shown on Wednesday 8 July, at the Ankawa Youth Meeting (AYM), the Pope urged young believers to persevere in faith and become peacemakers despite the region experiencing conflict and instability.

“You must be Christ’s light in the midst of a darkness that can, at times, seem overwhelming,” the Pope said.

“You may not be able to control your situation or the challenges you will be asked to face, but you can always choose to allow the peace of Christ to rule in your hearts.”

The majority of attendees fled their homes when Islamic State seized northern Iraq's Ninevah Plains in 2014. Ankawa was one of the main destinations for Christians who escaped. The families were supported by Christian organisations, - including ACN, which provided more than $A33 million in aid. ACN is also sponsoring the youth festival.

Read more about the youth festival: https://aidtochurch.org/news/our-news/pope-calls-on-iraqi-jihad-survivors-to-be-light-of-the-world

https://youtu.be/LZU1FKceSMc?si=ahHnzu_F6JdyeIuk

Pope Leo XIV encourages young Iraqi Christians gathered in Ankawa t...

16/07/2026

Seminarian Germán Jiménez from the diocese of Petare, Venezuela, is in the final stage of formation before his ordination to the priesthood.

When the earthquake hit on June 24, he mobilised to bring material and spiritual aid to thousands of victims in La Guaira, the worst-affected region.

As a seminarian, he is experiencing how “God makes Himself present in the midst of these circumstances”.

Together with his classmates from the St Rita Seminary in Caracas, he has distributed food, mattresses, clothes, and medicines, but his priority has been “for people to feel that the Church is with them”, and for the Church to stop to “listen, give a hug, a smile”.

"Although we are not priests, they see us as representing the Church and Christ."

While caring for the victims and bringing them comfort, hope, and material aid, these future priests are receiving lessons that will have a huge impact on the life of the Catholic Church in many dioceses of Venezuela.

Consider a donation today to help these seminarians continue their outreach to their future flock: https://aidtochurch.org/venezuela-earthquake

Read more about Germán: https://aidtochurch.org/news/oua-news/venezuelan-seminarians-put-theology-into-practice-among-the-rubble

10/07/2026

Every year, ACN supports the organisation of youth summer camps by local churches.

This year, ACN is supporting 407 summer camps, through 46 projects in 11 countries, reaching 33,631 children and young people.

The impact is particularly significant in countries marked by war, displacement and instability.

Many of these camps are specifically aimed at children with disabilities and refugees.

Claude Semaan, coordinator of Faith and Light in Syria, an international movement fostering spiritual growth among people with disabilities, explains that “the camp gives us tremendous energy for the year ahead. It is a space of hope, a space of real life".

Read more about how these summer camps offer healing and hope: https://aidtochurch.org/news/our-news/acn-supported-summer-camps-benefit-over-30-000-youths