Mirror 0618 by Aid to the Church in Need

MIRROR

FAITH GIVES

HOPE

FAITH GIVES HOPE

MIRROR GIVE JOY, GIVE HOPE

CONTENTS PAGE Because Faith gives Hope.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J F Declan Quinn.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Defending God, Defending Man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Martin Barta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Most Important Instrument of Evangelisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Good Catechetical Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Like Our Daily Bread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A Bible Competition in the Middle East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Summer Camps with Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Happy Marriages, Happy Lives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 A New Life, with YOUCAT in Venezuela.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maria Lozano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Homecoming in Nineveh, Iraq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oliver Maksan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 What we achieved together during 2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Kinsella. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A Look at the Middle East. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Syria/Iraq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 A Look at Africa.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nigeria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 A Look at Latin/South America.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brazil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 A Look at Eastern Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 A Look at Asia/Oceania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philippines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Forming the Future. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Heine-Geldern. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Editor: JĂźrgen Liminski. Publisher: ACN International, Postfach 1209, 61452 KĂśnigstein, Germany. De licentia competentis auctoritatis ecclesiasticae. Printed in Ireland - ISSN 0252-2535. www.acninternational.org

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AND YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESS

BECAUSE FAITH GIVES HOPE A chairde,

id to the Church in Need’s comprehensive annual report upon its mission and work in 148 countries during 2017 is entitled ‘Because Faith gives Hope’.1 As a title one would be hard-pressed to come up with a more condensed form of words which would better capture the reasons why ACN exists and the justification behind all that it does: Aid to the Church in Need exists to assist the Universal Church in its mission of bringing trustworthy Hope (‘anticipated Joy’) to the world. From this comprehensive report on the mission and work of ACN I have extracted and adapted a number of country reports as they relate to those countries which are sending a significant delegation of witnesses to attend the World Meeting of Families 2018 in Dublin.

Amongst these witnesses will be a delegation from the Philippines where their strongman President, Duterte (73) uninhibitedly mocks the Church.2 That the elected President of the third most populous Catholic country in the world, a man who publicly confesses to killing three people speaks volumes about the levels of chaos, violence and despair which has infected not just the Third World but the whole world, our world, ‘our Common Home’ as Pope Francis often refers to it. In today’s ‘global village’ the ‘cultured despisers of religion’3 and Truth are causing chaos everywhere. Today they largely control ‘the commanding heights’ of the global mass

media as well as dominate the social media. Writing in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI noted that ‘in vast areas of the world the Faith is in danger of dying out like a flame which no longer has fuel, the overriding priority is to make God present in this world and to show men and women the way to God. The real problem at this moment of our history is that God is disappearing from the human horizon, and, with the dimming of the light which comes from God, humanity is losing its bearings, with increasingly evident destructive effects.’4 The reality is that today all over the world Humanity is losing its bearings and losing Hope in its future. Faith gives Hope. Indeed Faith is Hope. So dear friends, when you and I show men and women the way to God, we are giving them Hope. We are being Witnesses to Hope. We are being Missionaries of Joy. We are being Christ’s Light in a dark world. We are being truly Christian. Beir Beannacht

J F Declan Quinn Curator 1 This report is available to be read in full at www.acnireland.org/annual_report 2 President Duterte has called Pope Francis, the Catholic Hierarchy ‘hypocrites’ and God ‘stupid’. 3 More specifically the ‘cultured despisers’ of Christians and the Christian Faith. 4 Pope Benedict XVI Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church, 10 March 2009.

GIVE JOY, GIVE HOPE

FAITH GIVES HOPE

DEFENDING GOD, DEFENDING MAN, DEFENDING THE FAMILY Dear Friends,

n recent months and years we have often reported on the persecuted Church in Iraq and Syria. The crisis there is immense, it is literally a matter of life and death – and of the survival of Christianity in its biblical homeland. But the need is also great in India, Pakistan, Latin America, Africa and China. In all these impoverished regions of the world, Christians’ material needs are an obstacle to the proclamation of the Gospel to all people so that they can recognise the true greatness of their dignity and vocation. And the poor, if we abandon them, are ‘doubly exposed to neglect and to all kinds of dangers to their integrity’, as Pope Francis tells us. It is our task to address this need in the Church and support people in their life of faith.

Woman with one of her sons – she is one of the protagonists of a short film for ACN’s 2018 India campaign ‘a son of a bitch’.

But much is also amiss in our wealthy nations. The creeping loss of faith and of people’s relationship to God, the Creator of life, undermines their spiritual and cultural foundations. Disaster and war are always caused by spiritual confusion. With the refusal of a binding relationship (re-ligio) with God, the fundamental principles of our lives first blur and then evaporate. When we reject God’s Commandments and define ourselves, we remain trapped within ourselves. The great debates over the defence of life, marriage and the family ultimately depend on this openness to God. So it is, generally speaking, not a matter of material, but of spiritual poverty. This is where each of us is called to give our own personal testimony as to human nature and the plan of God for us all. The Church, especially through the popes of the last 50 years, has reminded us again and again of this wonder of our human nature. It is the garment of God’s Love. Radical gender ideology, abortion, ‘marriage equality’, euthanasia, ‘spare embryos’ created by IVF – all these things are manipulations

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of nature. This kind of thinking destroys our human dignity. This lies at the heart of ‘the Culture of Death’. ‘Abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace’ said Mother Teresa. But education for peace begins in the family. In the next few days tens of thousands of families will come together at the World Meeting of Families in Ireland, in order to bear witness to the ‘Gospel of the Family’. ACN wants this good news to be heard in every family around the world and so we are supporting hundreds of ‘family projects’ worldwide. ‘The Civilisation of Love’ needs our support – in Iraq, in Syria, around the world, and also in our own wealthy nations. It is vital to the existence of the family. If we do not strive to protect and defend our children and young people, marriage and the family, then the tide of evil will sweep away the foundations. In defending God, we defend man! My grateful blessing on you all,

Father Martin M. Barta, ACN Ecclesiastical Assistant

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT OF EVANGELISATION PHILIPPINES The complete Bible, both Old and New Testament, has been published in 674 languages, while the New Testament on its own has been translated into an additional 1,515 (i.e. 2,189 in total).

for 4,000 copies in Ilocano and a further 500 copies in Tagalog (as well as 4,000 copies in English) on the grounds that

he Bible has been translated more than any other book. Even ACN’s Child’s Bible God speaks to his Children has now been published in 189 languages and some 51 million copies. And demand remains high.

‘this beautifully presented book helps our young catechists to teach our children the faith. Teachers and students use it as a textbook for their teaching, and the diocesan family apostolate recommends it to parents as a book to read out to their children in the evenings.’

In many dioceses the Child’s Bible serves as more than merely religious literature. Bishop Valentin Dimoc, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe in the Philippines, asked

It is the most important instrument of evangelisation in the 22 parishes of the diocese, he tells us. We were more than happy to provide the copies he needed. •

GOD SPEAKS TO HIS CHILDREN Texts from the Bible

The basis of their pastoral work – the Child’s Bible in Tagalog.

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GOOD CATECHETICAL MATERIALS ZIMBABWE ‘Without good catechetical material in the local language, the work of evangelisation will not succeed.’

A catechism should faithfully and systematically present the teaching of Sacred Scripture, the living Tradition in the Church and the authentic Magisterium, as well as the spiritual heritage of the Fathers, Doctors and saints of the Church, to allow for a better knowledge of the Christian mystery and for enlivening the faith of the People of God. It should take into account the doctrinal statements which down the centuries the Holy Spirit has intimated to his Church. It should also help to illumine with the light of faith the new situations and problems which has not yet emerged in the past. This catechism will thus contain both the new and the old (cf. Mt 13:52), because the faith is always the same yet the source of ever new light. (Apostolic Constitution “Fidei Depositum”)

CY CMY

I BELIEVE A Little Catholic Catechism

A Little Catholic Catechism

And the neighbouring diocese of Hwange, which also has 15,000 Catholic members of the Ndebele tribe, is also waiting for ACN’s ‘sound catechetical material’. We have promised help for translation, printing and distribution. •

I BELIEVE

his simple statement by the Archbishop of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe particularly applies to some of the poorest regions in the country, like Matabeleland, where almost nobody speaks anything other than the local language isiNdebele. That is why Archbishop Alex Thomas Kaliyanil wants to see ACN’s little Catholic catechism ‘I Believe’ translated. It will be called Ngiyakholwa and will be distributed among the 47 parishes of the diocese.

Many of these also have outstations, which the priests are only able to visit very occasionally. So it is all the more important to have the Church’s teaching clearly stated, in a form which is easy to refer to. 5,000 copies of the book will be printed initially.

At last, in my own language: I Believe in isiNdebele.

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

LIKE OUR DAILY BREAD

n the spring of 2017 torrential rain fell like a deluge on the Archdiocese of Piura in Peru. In a matter of hours it turned streams into roaring torrents and washed away or overwhelmed thousands of homes, animals, vehicles and small chapels. The catastrophic deluge was followed by a deluge of aid, but many people in this profoundly religious archdiocese are still lamenting, among other things, the loss of their Bibles. Archbishop José Antonio Eguren appealed to ACN for help and now 3,700 Bibles have been sent to Piura, to chapels, homes and schools, prompting a wave of gratitude:

PERU

‘We are so happy to be able to read about Jesus again’, ‘The Bible has a special place in our home’, ‘The words of Jesus are like our daily bread for us’. These and many other expressions of thanks from his people have been sent to us by the archbishop, who also writes, ‘May God bless you and your work in the service of evangelisation. In this way we will together help to bring about the longed for Civilisation of Love.’ •

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A BIBLE COMPETITION IN THE MIDDLE EAST EGYPT

oderate Muslims regard Christians as ‘People of the Book’. The Bible is a mark of Christian identity. So knowing ourselves, means knowing the scriptures.

It is also important for understanding where we differ from Islam. So the Coptic Catholics in Egypt are encouraging their young people to do exactly that. Each year they organise a Bible competition, in which some 4,000 schoolchildren aged between 12 and 18 take part. Very often their families are also involved, so that over the course of six months around 15,000 Catholics are studying the Bible and even learning parts of it by heart.

At the end of the competition, 100 pupils go through to the final. Similar Bible competitions are also being held in Jordan and in the Gulf states. There is great enthusiasm for reading the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles, and as the participants knowledge of the Bible grows, they can read their own stories in the Word of God. ACN is helping by contributing for the cost of new Bibles and the organisation of the competition. •

What Jesus taught: young people studying the Bible in Cairo.

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

SUMMER CAMPS WITH CHRIST ARMENIA

‘The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church,’ said Pope Francis in a tweet on Twitter. We might also say that the welfare of the children is decisive for the welfare of the family.

t is not only parents who look after children’s welfare. It is true, of course, as Saint John Paul II wrote in his Letter to Families in 1994, that parents are ‘the first and principal educators’ of their children. But he added that they can also share this responsibility ‘with other individuals and institutions, such as the Church’, who help fulfil this educational duty. This is what is happening in the summer camps run by the Ordinariate for Armenian Catholics in Eastern Europe. This year 800 children aged between 9 and 18 will be taking part in the summer camps. Their parents know that their children will be spending their time here

in a Christian atmosphere and at the same time learning a great deal about their spiritual inheritance in the Armenian Catholic Church. In addition to daily Mass and catechism classes, the programme includes a great deal of sport, hiking and group games, as well as Armenian dancing, folklore and learning about the history and culture of the country. The children and young people all come from poor families and would otherwise have no opportunity to have such a holiday. Quite a few of the young people are actually baptised during the summer camp; last year 25 of them received the sacrament. Others will prepare for their First Holy Communion with the help of the catechists and priests. It would be hard to do more for the welfare of these children. We are delighted to be able to help. •

Sport and games bring friendship – and we all need friends in life.

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HAPPY MARRIAGES, HAPPY LIVES DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO

n the 50 years since Blessed Pope Paul VI wrote Humanae Vitae, this prophetic encyclical has lost none of its relevance. In Europe and America’s wealthy countries this encyclical is often ignored or even maligned, but in the poor countries of Africa and Asia it is highly esteemed. In the wartorn and crisis-ridden Democratic Republic of the Congo the Archdiocese of Bukavu is organising a congress for priests, religious sisters and catechists from six dioceses in order to study the wisdom of its teachings for the present time. How many people know, for example, that this encyclical praises marriage as ‘a love which is total – that very special form of personal friendship in which husband and wife generously share everything’ and that it does not avoid the problems of fertility regulation, but rather points the way to a happy married and family life?

Research in this area encouraged by Blessed Pope Paul VI and his successors, especially Saint John Paul II, is a natural part of pastoral care for families. Ranged against this there is a perverse form of ethics, which is all about the selfishness of the individual and the profits of big industry. The aim of the congress is to examine these insights anew and organise the pastoral care of families accordingly. In promoting the natural law, the congress also promotes human happiness. We are supporting its work. •

Marriage and family is not just a matter of sentiment. Knowledge is important too. GIVE JOY, GIVE HOPE

FAITH GIVES HOPE

A NEW LIFE, WITH YOUCAT IN VENEZUELA MARIA LOZANO ‘And the truth will make you free’ (Jn 8:32). This truth is directly experienced by the young people visited by Father Gregorio, in prison – the inner freedom of the children of God.

or a year now Father Gregorio has been regularly visiting the youth prison in the diocese of Carupano in eastern Venezuela. ‘He was like an angel from heaven’ says Alejandro. The 15-year-old is behind bars for aggravated theft. ‘It has completely changed us’, he says. The ‘it’ is the word of God, which tells of the Lord’s Love. Father Gregorio has brought it with him in the form of the Bible and YOUCAT, the youth catechism sponsored by ACN. His bishop requested these books from ACN for Father Gregorio. And many other dioceses are waiting for this kind of help. ‘Father gave me this Bible

and the catechism’, Alejandro recalls. ‘Before that I knew a few stories, but didn’t really want to know.’ He takes a deep breath and looks at us with eyes full of hope. ‘Thanks to these visits, I have now made my first Holy Communion, and in a few days I will be confirmed.’ Alejandro is one of 30 young inmates aged between 15 and 19. Before Father Gregorio, some of the Protestant sects came, but they only ‘preached and understood nothing’, their female warder tells us. ‘The sects could not supply the longing of these young people for understanding and love’, she adds. ‘And not being understood, they became still more aggressive.’ But Father Gregorio speaks to them from the heart, she explains. ‘He brings them the love that they have never experienced in their lives.’ All the boys are from broken families. ‘At first I simply listened to them’, Father Gregorio tells The inner freedom of the children of God: Father Gregorio and his proteges.

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us. ‘They were lonely, inwardly abandoned, but longing for meaning in their lives, for love, for friendship with God. So then they were able to read in the YOUCAT, and little by little we talked about it.’ Alejandro confirms this: ‘We see life differently now. The words of Father Gregorio, the Bible and the YOUCAT, it all made us think a great deal. We’re going to live differently now.’ His cellmate, who is also going to be confirmed soon, adds, ‘All this has shown us the way of truth, the way to goodness, to God. I’m so happy that Father Gregorio has shown us this path.’ It is this joy in the truth that now liberates these lads and fills their hearts. For Antonio José, the visits of the priest were a totally new experience. ‘I was only just baptised a few days ago, here behind bars. I didn’t know the Bible and knew nothing about Christ. Now it’s like I’m born anew; the past seems so far away. Father is helping me to look forward. I want to live with God.’ Nor have these young inmates forgotten you, our benefactors. ‘We know where these good books have come from, which tell us about Christ and help us to overcome our bad habits and inclinations. We are very grateful to the people of ACN. Through the YOUCAT we feel we are united with them; it’s as though they themselves had come to visit us. Thank you.’ •

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

HOMECOMING IN NINEVEH, IRAQ OLIVER MAKSAN Father George Jahola shows us round his church. ‘Allahu akbar’ and ‘The Islamic State (IS) will return’ are still sprayed in Arabic on the walls. ‘Do you see the graffiti? It was left behind by the IS terrorists in order to frighten our people.’ Outside, the bell tower still lies in ruins. ‘It was blown up by IS. We’re going to leave it like that as a reminder of the greatest disaster that ever struck our town of Qaraqosh.’

Qaraqosh was once the biggest Christian town in Iraq, with a population of over 50,000 people – until that scorching hot day in August 2014, when all its inhabitants were forced to flee from the advancing forces of so-called ‘Islamic State’. In a matter of just a few hours, they and tens of thousands of other Christians from the surrounding towns and villages became homeless and dispossessed. Years of uncertainty followed, in refugee camps. Many people left Iraq altogether and headed for the West. Not until the end of 2016 was this town in northern Iraq finally liberated. ‘But now half of us are back living here. And we are hoping that still more will come. That is what we are working towards’, says Father George.

Rebuilding work is well underway. We plan to restore over 2,700 homes, and we still lack the funds for many of them.

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In practice, he is something like parish priest and mayor rolled into one, the leading figure in the reconstruction of the town. A reconstruction made possible by the continuing support of ACN. ‘Come, I’ll show you how we’re helping people.’ We travel through potholed streets and past badly damaged houses, till we come to the house of the Bassim family. A hammered metal cross hangs proudly over the entrance to the simple house of this Syriac Catholic family. Basima and her daughter Marijam welcome us with tea and cakes. ‘We simply cannot tell you how happy we are to be able to live back in our own home once again’, the mother tells us. ‘We want to thank the benefactors of ACN for this, as our fate has touched them. May God grant them health and long life!’ Their family is one of the more fortunate ones, however. Almost a hundred homes in the town were totally destroyed, they tell us. And thousands of others are virtually uninhabitable. But even their own house still needs new doors and windows, and a coat of paint. And most of their

Home to stay: Basima and her daughter Marijam outside their family home.

furniture has either been stolen or decayed in the years since they left. And despite their joy at being able to return to their own home, they still face major problems. 21-year-old Marijam, the daughter, is studying engineering. ‘I absolutely want to stay in my own country’, she says. ‘But that depends on whether I can find work here.’ At the moment her father, who deals in car parts, manages to make a modest living for his family. But the economic situation is fragile. During their years as refugees, they have used up all their family savings. But their greatest fear is that the events of 2014 could happen again. ‘We don’t really feel safe. We are still fearful that Daesh might come back again’, the mother tells us. ‘May God protect us again in the future.’ Father George understands the needs of his parishioners. ‘Naturally, not everything is good. The problems in our country are enormous. But one thing is certain: if other Christians around the world had not helped us so generously, • none of us would be here today.’

A reminder of the horror: Father George next to the ruined bell tower of his church.

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

A LOOK AT WHAT WE ACHIEVED TOGETHER DURING 2017 MICHAEL KINSELLA AND COLLEAGUES

he Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Chris- for discriminated and persecuted Christians toph Schönborn, likes to quote the artist with information, proclamation of faith and André Heller who, during his widely acclaimed advocacy. From the mission-related expendiaddress to mark the 80th anniversary of themeasures tures 84.0% went into project work and 16.0% » Our relief start Nazi occupation of Austria, noted that the into media support and prayer activities.5 with close dialogue with the universal language of mankind is compaslocal churches. « & Figures sion, or at least should be. Facts In 2017, the regional focus of our aid • projects was Africa, the Middle East as

In Asia, on the other hand, our priority is Offices in 23 countries in regions such as Pakistan and the Phil-

We’re sure you’d agree thatwellgiving practical • More than 368,000 benefactors as in Asia. In all our project work, ippines, where radical Islamism is also onworldwide with step the local the rise. donations, legacies and other expression to compassion isthe a dialogue decisive inChurch is• €124,057,414 particularly important to us, for the local income the direction of living Christian Espebishopscharity. and religious know best where Of course, we are also active in India, ofincreasingly 1.9 million € to be used in 2018 the need is greatest andstart which relief• Surplus where an radical Hinduism » Our relief measures cially when the reason for it lies in our desire to must be taken. We consider persecutes and oppresses Christian • Project partners in 148thecountries » Our relief measures measures start our task be supporting the Church, minority with violence in many places. respond in some smallclose way to thetolove of God with dialogue with the • 5,357 approved projects worldwide particularly in those places wherethe withthe close dialogue with for us and to imitate love of Christ. • 82.5% ofChina, theVietnam fundsandused are allocated in Christians suffer But also Laos, which local churches. «from war, oppression,

local churches. «

persecution and violence. have suffered under Communist power mission-related expenditures forisdecades, are still on our In 2017, the regional focus of our aid In Asia, on the other hand,structures our priority Unfortunately, projects wasregional Africa, the Middle East in such as in Pakistan andpriority the PhilIn 2017, the focus of our aidas a hotspot In regions Asia,ofonviolence the other hand,list. our is 2017 East was once again the Middle well as inwas Asia. In allthe ourMiddle project work, ippines, where radical Islamism is also on projects Africa, as in regions suchEast, as Pakistan and the Philwhere in ismany places the faithful are ex- Islamism is also on the with theour local Church the rise. welldialogue as in Asia. In all project work, ippines, where radical €84.6 million posed toisthe arbitrariness particularly to us, for the local the dialogueimportant with the local Church the rise. and violence ofbest IS other groups. Therebishops andimportant religious know where Of course, we are also active in India, particularly to us, forand the local Islamistic Aid granted by 3.6% fore, aid projects for the needand is greatest and which relief where anand increasingly bishops religious know best where Of Syria course, weIraq arewill also radical active inHinduism India, continue on our measures be taken. We consider persecutes and oppresses theHinduism Christian the need ismust greatest and which reliefto be high where anagenda. increasingly radical Africa (→ 14.5% our task tomust be supporting theconsider Church, minority with violence in many places. measures be taken. We persecutes and oppresses the Christian 29.5% Middle Ea But Christians in many countries of particularly in supporting those places where our task to be the Church, minority with violence in many places. also suffer from the persecution Christians fromplaces war,Africa oppression, But also China, Vietnam and Laos, which particularlysuffer in those where Asia/Oce violence of radical Islamism. At theCommunist persecution and from violence. have suffered power Christians suffer war,and oppression, But also China,under Vietnam and Laos, which 15.5% Latin Am same time, Africa is the continent with structures for decades, are still on our persecution and violence. have suffered under Communist power strongest in believers. Our Unfortunately, a hotspot ofthe violence in growth list. structures for decades, are still on our Western/ forinAfrica takes 2017 was once again the Middle East, Unfortunately, a hotspot offunding violence list. account of these (→ p. 80 f 15.7% 21.2% developments, as more than a quarter of where in many placesthe theMiddle faithfulEast, are ex2017 was once again €84.6 million Other our overall project budget went to the loposed the arbitrariness and violence where to in many places the faithful are ex€84.6 million cal of IS and other Islamistic groups. There-of African countries in 2017. posed to the arbitrariness andchurches violence Aid granted by region (2017) 3.6% fore, aid projects for Syriagroups. and Iraq will of IS and other Islamistic ThereAid granted by region (2017) 3.6% continue to be high ourand agenda. fore, aid projects foron Syria Iraq will Africa (→ p. 58 ff.) 14.5% continue to be high on our agenda. 29.5% Africa (→ p. 58 ff.) 14.5% Middle East (→ p. 70 ff.) But Christians in many countries of 29.5% Africa also suffer from the persecution Middle East (→ p. 70 ff.) But Christians in many countries of Asia/Oceania (→ p. 88 ff.) and violence of radical Islamism. At the Africa also suffer from the persecution 15.5% Asia/Oceania (→ p. 88 ff.) Latin America (→ p. 44 ff.) same time, Africa is theIslamism. continentAt with and violence of radical the Facts and figures | ACN Activit 15.5% the strongest growth in believers. Our Latin America (→ p. 44 ff.) same time, Africa is the continent with Western/Eastern Europe funding for Africa takes ofOur these the strongest growth in account believers. (→ p. 80 ff.) Western/Eastern Europe 15.7% 21.2% developments, as takes more account than a quarter of funding for Africa of these (→ p. 80 ff.) Other our overall project budget went to the lo15.7% 21.2% developments, as more than a quarter of 5 All financial figures are audited by the independent auditing cal of African countries 2017. Other ourchurches overall project budget went tointhe locompany KPMG. cal churches of African countries in 2017.

During 2017, we received more than 7,500 applications for aid from all over the world and we were able to fund activities amounting to €122.1 million. The bulk of which (82.5%) flowed into mission-related expenditures like project work, media support as well as prayer activities.

Aid allocated by region

Of course, we are not able to operate without administration, advertising and fundraising costs, but we use the funds as efficiently as possible in these areas, so that as many resources as possible are utilised to assist local Christians. So it was that we were able to support a total of 5,357 projects with more than €100.7 million euros in 148 countries and stand up

Aid to the Church in Need

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The projects we support are primarily of a pastoral nature. In 2017, about one third of the outlays were used for the construction of seminary buildings, as well as the construction and reconstruction of churches and religious facilities. More than one-fifth of our project budget was used for the training of priests and religious sisters, as well as the continuing education of priests and the formation of faith for the laity. At nearly one-fifth, a large proportion of our funding amount was used for emergency aid, such as for the support of the numerous victims of the conflict in the Middle East. An essential constant is also our funding of Mass stipends, which we supported in 2017 with approximately €12.6 million worldwide. In 2017, the regional focus of our aid projects was Africa, the Middle East as well as in Asia. In all our project work, the dialogue with the local Church is particularly important to us, for the local bishops and religious know best where the need is greatest and which relief measures must be taken. We consider our task to be supporting the Church, particularly in

Detailed use of Funds Mission-related expenditures Administration

those places where Christians suffer from war, oppression, persecution and violence. Unfortunately, a hotspot of violence in 2017 was once again the Middle East, where in many places the faithful are exposed to the arbitrariness and violence of IS and other Islamistic groups. Therefore, aid projects for Syria and Iraq will continue to be high on our agenda. But Christians in many countries of Africa also suffer from the persecution and violence of radical Islamism. At the same time, Africa is the continent with the strongest growth in believers. Our funding for Africa takes account of these developments, as more than a quarter of our overall project budget went to the local churches of African countries during the year. In Asia, we prioritise regions such as Pakistan and the Philippines, where radical Islamism is also on the rise. Of course, we are also active in India, where an increasingly radical Hinduism persecutes and oppresses the Christian minority with violence in many places. But also China, Vietnam and Laos, which have suffered under Communist power structures for • decades, are still on our priority list.

Mission-related expenditure

7.0% €8.5 million 10.5% €12.8 million

Donor relations and fundraising

Project work

16.0% €16.1 million 82.5% €100.7 million

84.0% €84.6 million

€122.1 million

Information, proclamation of faith and advocacy for discriminated and persecuted Christians

€100.7 million

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

A LOOK AT THE MIDDLE EAST

he situation of Christians in the Middle East continued to deteriorate in 2017 as a result of violence, oppression and displacement. Civil war has been raging in Syria for seven years now and Iraq faces the ruins caused by IS terror in many places. The entire region is marked by hundreds of thousands of victims of war and terror, millions of refugees, political instability and a largely destroyed infrastructure. ACN is working hard to give Christians renewed hope for a future in an area that is a flash point for misery and violence.

has also not been spared. In Syria alone, ecclesiastical buildings in more than 200 parishes have been damaged or destroyed.

Christians are as much if not more affected by the war and terror as Muslims and other denominations. In Iraq and Syria, many Christian communities have been completely destroyed. Thousands of faithful have lost their lives or fled. The Church infrastructure

During our travels to the Middle East, many Christians repeatedly expressed the wish to stay in their homeland or to return from neighbouring countries. With financial and material help, we would like to continue to do our part to make the wishes of the faithful come true.

We see our aid in the Middle East as a response to the dramatic humanitarian situation caused by the war in Syria and the invasion of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq. More than that however we see our aim as being to help stop the massive exodus of Christians from the region and thereby prevent the Christian presence in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity, from being wiped out.

Food distribution to children on International Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day in Marmarita.

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SYRIA

giving the faithful new confidence in their homeland.

fter more than seven years of civil war, the Syrian people are haunted by violence, persecution, hunger, flight and destruction. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 11.1 million people in Syria depend on humanitarian aid and 6.1 million are internally displaced. More than 5.6 million have left the country, including many Christians. With some 4.7 million euros in emergency aid, we continued to provide the faithful with the essentials in 2017 and give them courage and hope in the most desperate of situations. In Syria, there are only about 500,000 Christians, who make up about 3% of the population. Two-thirds of them have already fled abroad. And more will follow. The situation is desperate, as Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus, told us: ‘These poor people, who have already lost everything, are forced to leave their homes. Many have drowned on the run, others have been ruthlessly robbed, others have died of disease or some of the forgotten by suicide.’ The Christian exodus poses an existential threat to Christianity in large parts of Syria, as the country is home to one of the largest Christian ethnic groups in the Middle East. It is clear that the number of Christians will drop to a few thousand in the near future if the ‘tsunami of migration’ is not addressed. ACN’s emergency aid is an indispensable means of

The coordination of our emergency aid is carried out in close cooperation with the local bishops, as local church workers know best which families need the most urgent help. They predominantly help Christian families, but also Muslims. In particular, our assistance measures are made up of housing subsidies to ensure adequate shelter, along with basic foodstuffs and energy in the form of electricity, heating oil or gas. Of our total budget for Syria in 2017, €1,336,650 were spent on food projects, €1,588,400 on rent subsidies, €761,881 on health care and €1,041,662 on education. As ACN is recognised as a partner to the churches in Syria, our aid organisation is especially effective in assisting Christians to start a new life in this war-torn country. To this end, we are currently planning a series of initiatives to ensure professional, coordinated and transparent reconstruction assistance. We will commission studies and develop the necessary communication tools to serve as the basis for our fundraising work. The results of this research and media work should also serve to remind governments and the international community of their responsibility to minorities, including Christians in Syria.

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

IRAQ

fter the end of the fighting in the war against IS, the situation in Iraq remains disastrous. The areas liberated from IS are in ruins and the country is deeply divided ethnically, politically and religiously. Economic decline, displacement, unemployment and poverty can be found everywhere. The situation of Christians is also catastrophic. Thousands have moved to safer areas and to Europe. Through its humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, ACN is working tirelessly with its project partners to persuade the faithful to stay and return home. According to a survey, 8.7 million people still require humanitarian aid in Iraq today; around 2.6 million are internally displaced. The number of Christians in the country has

fallen dramatically due to the war. Experts estimate that there are 250,000 to 350,000 Christians. In comparison, in 2003 there were still 1.5 million. Providing food continued to be a top priority for us in Iraq in 2017. For Christians from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains, who have fled the Daesh to Kurdistan, we provided €4.7 million for food and €1.9 million for housing. Around 12,000 internally displaced families benefit from this regular support. Our project partners repeatedly stress that ACN aid gives people hope. For many of them, our support is a true testament to God’s kindness and love. Another sign of hope for many Christians is the rebuilding of churches and ecclesiastical facilities. For this reason, ACN also supports the reconstruction and renovation of some churches, parish centres and monasteries.

This 80-year-old woman also had to flee the IS troops in 2014; today she lives in a shed.

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A ‘MARSHALL PLAN’ FOR CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ The commitment of the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee (NRC) in Iraq is bringing courage and hope for Christians in Iraq. The committee is an interconfessional aid project developed by ACN together with the Syrian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox and Chaldean Catholic Churches. It offers Christians from the Nineveh Plains in Kurdistan who were displaced by the IS the opportunity to return to their villages. We supported the project with considerable resources in 2017 and have been able to regularly provide food and shelter to 95,000 Christians from the Nineveh Plains, as well as finance the reconstruction of the first 200 homes in their home villages, 100 of them in Qaraqosh alone. The goal of the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee is to rebuild the homes of internally displaced people from the Nineveh Plains that were destroyed by IS. For after the region was liberated, many Christians expressed their desire to return to their villages and thus to their old lives. They turned to local church leaders, who, in turn, asked ACN to help with the planning and funding of the project.

As confirmed by a study commissioned by ACN, IS terror in the Nineveh Plains has destroyed or seriously damaged nearly 13,000 private homes, as well as schools, clinics and church buildings. The estimated reconstruction costs for private homes alone will exceed US$250 million. But as large as these challenges are, the Nineveh Reconstruction Project has already proved to be a great success. Just over a year after the start of the project, 8,768 of the 19,452 families have been able to move back into their homes – and more will follow. As part of our advocacy activities, we will continue to promote the Nineveh Reconstruction Project through fundraising, awareness raising and advocacy activities among governments and key institutions. •

Discussion on the reconstruction of houses in the villages of the Nineveh Plains.

In this way, a kind of ‘Marshall Plan’ for Christians was developed in a process of close collaboration, which not only encompasses reconstruction but also the creation of jobs as part of the construction work.

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FAITH GIVES HOPE

A LOOK AT AFRICA

espite its abundant mineral resources, Africa is considered the poorest continent in the world. Of its more than 1.1 billion inhabitants, some 215 million are Catholic. Their number has quadrupled since 1982. Nevertheless, Christians in many countries are in the minority and are persecuted or oppressed. In addition to its pastoral efforts, the Church is also socially engaged in Africa, including in activities such as education, pastoral ministry to refugees, medical care and the protection of life. ACN supported more than 1,800 projects in 48 African countries in 2017. In the reporting year, Africa has continued to be a continent where wars, famines and religious conflicts take place. In many regions, Islamist terrorist groups are putting the lives of Christians in danger. Elsewhere Christians have been caught between political fronts.

In addition, corruption, crime and natural disasters threaten the lives of the faithful. For the future of the Church on the continent, the formation of priests remains the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;best investmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to ensure that the Eucharist is celebrated and the Gospel is spread. For this reason, we fund the formation of priests, sisters and catechists as much as we possibly can. In total, we received 2,700 new applications from Africa. The projects we support include the construction and renovation of churches, aid for the formation of candidates for the priesthood and religious members, help for catechetical, media and educational work, assistance in the provision of ecclesiastical refugee aid and activities that promote interfaith dialogue and peace work.

At the seminary of Kadunae, Nigeria.

Aid to the Church in Need

AND YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESS Reconsecration of the diocese of Maiduguri to the Immaculate Herat of Mary, Nigeria.

NIGERIA

igeria is the birthplace of the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, which continues to persecute and kill Christians for their beliefs. Priests and bishops in the country are not only confronted with the ruins of destroyed churches and schools, but also with broken and highly traumatised people. In addition to rebuilding the ailing infrastructure, their work is mainly about rebuilding human souls. The Catholics in Nigeria live their faith with deep conviction. Together with them, it is now necessary to break down hatred and the spiral of violence in order to lead people to peace. In the Diocese of Maiduguri, with our help, the chapel destroyed by Boko Haram is being renovated, as is the building which houses priests who teach at the St. Joseph â&#x20AC;˘ Seminary.

After Sunday Mass in the parish of St. Rita, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

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A LOOK AT LATIN & SOUTH AMERICA

ith more than 250 million Catholics, Latin America is traditionally considered the ‘Catholic continent’. The number of requests for aid to the Church in Latin America increased again in 2017 by about 7% to 1,199 applications. The reasons for this rise primarily include the economic crisis in Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina, as well as continuing hardships in Haiti. In total, ACN funded 932 relief projects on the continent during the reporting year, supported by a total budget of around €12.7 million. This corresponds to 15.5 % of our global funding volume for 2017. Nearly 40% of all Catholics worldwide live in Latin America. Nevertheless, the number of Catholic believers here has been decreasing dramatically over the past 40 years. On average, the Catholic Church still represents about 70% of the faithful, but in the poorest countries of Central America, El Salvador,

Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, Catholics make up only 45–50% of the population. This is mainly a consequence of the lack of priests and adequate training. This situation is exploited by Protestant sects and Pentecostal churches. By strengthening the Catholic Church, the influence of these sects can be diminished. For this reason, ACN’s assistance in Latin America has increasingly focused on the education and training of priests and other pastoral workers. Of particular concern in Latin America is the excessive violence of the drug cartels and the extreme economic and cultural inequality. Poverty is still dramatic in the city peripheries and in rural areas. Every day, thousands of priests live and evangelise the poorest and those who have been forgotten.

Aid to the Church in Need

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BRAZIL

orruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, violence and drastic social cuts – Brazil’s climate of uncertainty has been fuelled by years of economic crisis. Although the economic downturn seems to be slowly coming to an end, the reforms are mainly shouldered by the general population. The Church in Brazil also suffers from the ongoing crisis and increasing violence. In many dioceses of Brazil, self-financing has been seriously endangered due to the economic crisis. Our aid here primarily flows into religious education and the support of pastoral workers. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference is also very concerned about the proliferation of violent crime. The parish of Obra de Maria in MaritubaBelém, among others, was directly affected by violence in 2017. In addition to impressive new evangelisation initiatives, the parish is committed to numerous charitable causes. Its seminary building has been invaded five times by heavily armed gangs within just 15 months. One seminarian narrowly escaped with his life. Eventually, the seminarians were hindered from attending college due to death threats.

5,000 YOUCAT EDITIONS FOR THE MISSÃO BELÉM During our visits, we are repeatedly impressed by the selfless commitment of many priests. One of them is Father Gianpietro Carraro, who spent some time with homeless people in the streets of São Paulo and then founded the ‘Missão Belém’. Today, the mission welcomes thousands of homeless people in some 160 shelters in the São Paulo metropolitan area. The homeless can receive meals there, take a shower, spend the night, and even seek counselling and legal advice if they wish. More than 50% of the alcohol and drug-addicted homeless have been freed from their addictions and found faith in God. ACN recently sent 5,000 copies of the YOUCAT to the Missão Belém for • catechesis to assist with its mission.

Violent incidents such as these shockingly depict how urgently the Church in Brazil relies on external protection and assistance. ACN has therefore promised the parish aid with the construction of a new seminary building. In addition, we provide annual help to Obra de Maria with Bibles, bicycles and motorcycles. GIVE JOY, GIVE HOPE

FAITH GIVES HOPE

A LOOK AT EASTERN EUROPE

n Eastern Europe, the vacuum left behind by communism and atheism has been filled with hopelessness and crime in some countries. Reaching people and providing pastoral care in such a situation represents the greatest challenge for local churches. Evangelisation is needed. For this reason, we sponsored many retreat projects in 2017, as well as the training of future priests and sisters.

In Eastern Europe, the Church is working tirelessly to stand on its own feet financially. Nevertheless, it would hardly have been able to survive in 2017 without outside assistance. One of many reasons for this is that as funds were often scarce after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc states, building projects were

carried out quickly, cheaply and unprofessionally. Renovating these buildings is a major task for the local churches, and we assisted these efforts during the reporting year. Just as important as the ecclesiastical infrastructure is promoting understanding between the denominations, especially the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. We continue to support interdenominational media projects as well as media training for church representatives to give the Catholic Church a voice and contribute to the renewal of faith.

People praying in the Danilovsky Monastery in Moscow. 24

Aid to the Church in Need

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RUSSIA

he Catholic Church in Russia continues to rely on solidarity from the faithful in the Western world and will not be able to survive without them in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, selective approaches to financial independence are developing. To support these approaches, we sponsored income maintenance projects such as the Seminary Complex in St. Petersburg, which has once again become the property of the Archdiocese of Moscow, as well as a pilgrimage site in Vladimir. Since the pastoral care of Catholic believers requires a good deal of support, Russia is being treated as a priority country. At the request of the Saint Pope John Paul II, we began ecumenical dialogue and reconciliation efforts between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches over 25 years ago. Today we are on the verge of a new and mature form of cooperation. The publication of a booklet on the destruction of 30 sanctuaries of all denominations in Syria should be seen against this backdrop.

ACN also sponsors a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts in Torfyanoye.

The booklet was published in an exemplary collaboration between the Foreign Office of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Pontifical Unity Council and ACN. With our participation, it was preceded by the formation of a Russian-Catholic and Russian-Orthodox working group, which was established and became active as a result of the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Cuba. In 2017, this working group was able to jointly implement many initiatives both inside and outside of Russia. A new working group structure integrates the local Catholic church on all levels. •

Father Michael Shields with one of the ‘repressed’, Magadan, Russia.

Available to read on acnireland.org/books GIVE JOY, GIVE HOPE

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A LOOK AT ASIA/OCEANIA

he problems facing the Catholic Church in Asia and Oceania are distinct and highly varied. In most Asian countries, Christians form a minority that is often socially marginalised and discriminated against. In South and South East Asia, Christians suffer from the actions of radical Islamist groups. Natural disasters compound the problem. These often cause severe destruction in Asia and Oceania, along with widespread poverty. ACN supports the Catholic Church in building and maintaining its infrastructure, in the formation of priests and the laity, and in initiatives that foster interreligious dialogue. Even where national constitutions guarantee religious freedom, it is often severely restricted in countries such as India or

Pakistan. Compared to last year, we have observed a significant increase in attacks and violence against Christian communities. Unfortunately, without outside help, many local churches are not able to fulfil their pastoral mission to an adequate degree. In many areas, the Church also had to contend with natural disasters, such as in Bangladesh, where flooding during the monsoon season also caused damage to the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure. In countries such as Vietnam, the Church is also greatly concerned by the increase in social uprooting, migrant labour and a materialistic world-view. Above all, ACN provides assistance for projects that involve religious education and support for families. The city of Marawi on Mindanao was attacked by IS extremists in May 2017 and was besieged for five months. The cathedral was badly damaged.

Aid to the Church in Need

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PHILIPPINES

ore than 80% of about 100 million Filipinos belong to the Catholic Church, which currently faces great challenges. Social inequality, drug trafficking and growing materialism are having adverse effects on social consensus. We help the Church, especially in economically disadvantaged dioceses, to provide pastoral care to their faithful and to create the necessary structures to ensure this. In the southern part of the country, where conflicts with the Muslim minority occur, we support dialogue and peace initiatives. The relationship between the Catholic Church and the government is currently strained. The Church has criticized violent crackdowns on drug addicts and dealers. In view of the escalating drug problem, it was not without reason that the Archbishop of Manila called for all social groups to engage in a dialogue in August 2017.

Another source of trouble is the island of Mindanao with its Muslim minority, which is highly focused on autonomy. The peace process here has stalled. In May 2017, several hundred Islamist militants attacked the city of Marawi on Mindanao and occupied the city centre. Hostages were taken and the cathedral was badly damaged. For years, ACN has been assisting the Church in the Philippines with initiatives for dialogue and peace. These have acquired a new urgency in the wake of the recent violent clashes. We also supported church construction projects, including the construction of a seminary in the Archdiocese of Palo on the island of Leyte. Additionally, in 2017, we paid special attention to the dioceses north of Luzon, an economically disadvantaged region. The historic centre of the city of Marawi, now called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ground Zeroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. During the siege of Marawi, military airstrikes turned what was once the pride of Muslim Mindanao into rubble.

GIVE JOY, GIVE HOPE

An essential An essential constantconstant is also our is also funding our funding of Mass of stipends, Mass stipends, which we which supported we supported More than More one-fifth thanFAITH one-fifth of our project of our budget project budget GIVES HOPE in 2017 with in 2017 approximately with approximately 12.6 million 12.6 million was used was forused the training for the training of priests of and priests and euros worldwide. euros worldwide. religiousreligious sisters, as sisters, well as as the wellcontinuas the continuing education ing education of priests of and priests the and for- the formation of mation faith for of faith the laity. for the laity.

GIVING JOY GIVING HOPE:

IN 2017 YOU FUNDED A TOTAL OF 5,357 PROJECTS Aid granted Aid granted by typeby of type help of (2017) help (2017)

€84.6 million €84.6 million

Construction Construction and reconstruction and reconstruction (→ p. 24)(→ p. 24) 3.4% Emergency Emergency assistance assistance (→ p. 27)(→ p. 27) Mass stipends Mass stipends (→ p. 19)(→ p. 19) TrainingTraining of priests of and priests religious and religious (→ p. 20)(→ p. 20)

3.4%

3.5% 3.5% 7.5% 7.5% 32.8% 32.8% 9.6%

9.6%

Faith formation Faith formation of laity (→ of p. laity 23)(→ p. 23) 12.1% 12.1% Means of Means transport of transport for pastoral for pastoral care (→ p. care 25)(→ p. 25)

Distribution Distribution of Bibles, of religious Bibles, religious books and books media and(→ media p. 29)(→ p. 29)

15.7% 15.7% 15.4% 15.4%

Existence Existence help forhelp religious for religious (→ p. 22)(→ p. 22)

1,212 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS You helped to build chapels, churches, cathedrals, convents, presbyteries and seminaries, many in regions devastated by Activity 14 | ACN Report Activity 2017 Report | Facts 2017 and| Facts figures and figures natural disasters. One third of these projects were for churches.

For more details go to acnireland.org/ annual_reports

1,504,105 MASS OFFERINGS You helped one priest in every 10 with your offerings (40,383 priests in total), especially in Africa (15,440) and Asia (10,748). Every 21 seconds Mass was celebrated somewhere in the world for the intentions of our benefactors. 13,643 SEMINARIANS HELPED BY YOU IN 2017 This was the most we’ve helped in the last 20 years. You supported one in every nine seminarians around the world (in 2016 it was one in 11). Most of them were in Africa (5,486), Latin America (2,919) and Asia (2,101). 12,801 RELIGIOUS SISTERS SUPPORTED IN THEIR TRAINING AND/OR APOSTOLATE That equates to one Sister in every 52 (in 2016 it was 1 in 62). In most cases it was a matter of basic or ongoing formation. 424 CARS – 257 MOTORCYCLES – 429 BICYCLES – 4 TRUCKS – 3 BUSES – 3 BOATS Most of the cars were for Africa and Eastern Europe; most of the bicycles for Africa and Latin America.

Aid to the Church in Need

AND YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESS

FORMING THE FUTURE Dear Friends,

hen it comes to the religious education of our own children, what particularly matters, in addition to teaching the basics, is the example we give by our lives, how we trust in God. This example is especially fruitful when it is lived by both parents. Children find it much easier to develop in their own relationship with God when they have witnessed both their mother and father really taking their faith seriously.

May the World Meeting of Families in Ireland bring new inspiration to religious life within the family. I thank you with all my heart for your constant and generous willingness to provide help, through your prayers and donations.

Thomas Heine-Geldern, Executive President of ACN International C

(Apostolic Constitution â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fidei Depositumâ&#x20AC;?)

CY CMY

I BELIEVE A Little Catholic Catechism

A Little Catholic Catechism

I BELIEVE

At any rate it seems to me a somewhat unreasonable burden on the mother when, not infrequently, in addition to the double burden of work and family, the task of the religious education of the children also falls on her. It is essential that this joint

responsibility should be jointly borne. Again and again one sees how difficult, how almost impossible it is for Catholic mothers to keep their children open to the Faith beyond puberty, if the fathers do not also seek after God.

GOD SPEAKS TO HIS CHILDREN Texts from the Bible

WHERE TO SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTION FOR THE CHURCH IN NEED Please use the Freepost envelope.

IBAN BIC

Aid to the Church in Need,

IE32 BOFI 9005 7890 6993 28 BOFI IE2D

info@acnireland.org

If you give by standing order, or have sent a donation recently, please accept our sincere thanks. This MIRROR is for your interest and information.

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WE ARE CALLED TO BE MISSIONARIES OF

‘When we reject God’s Commandments and define ourselves, we remain trapped within ourselves.’ ACN Ecclesiastical Assistant

‘One could say, without exaggeration, that the family is the driving force of the world and of history. Our personality develops in the family, by growing up with our mum and dad, our brothers and sisters, by breathing in the warmth of the home.’

‘The family is God’s masterpiece.’ THE MIRROR IS AVAILABLE TO READ AT ACNIRELAND.ORG/MIRROR 18 - 6

At the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family 25th October 2013.