ACN annual Westminster Event

ACN’s annual Westminster event will be held on 17^th October 2015 at Westminster Cathedral in London.

The Holy Mass will begin at 10.30am followed by an afternoon of talks in the Cathedral Hall. Invited guest speakers at the event include Melkite Greek Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo, Victoria Youhanna & Fr Douglas Bazi.

Tickets are currently available for benefactors and friends and can be purchased by calling ACN on 020 8642 8668 or through our website.

Visit our website and book early to avoid disappointment:http://ow.ly/QC4NS  

Please Pray for the Kidnapped and Kidnappers

Around 160 Christians are thought to have been captured when extremist Islamist militia Daesh (ISIS) took over the town of Al Qaryatayn near Homs, Syria on Thursday 6^th August according to a priest working in the region. But speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, the charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, Father Jihad Youssef that the exact number of hostages was unclear.

“But we do not know if all of the remaining Christians were taken as hostages by ISIS, or if some went into hiding. At the end of the week, some 30 Christians succeeded in fleeing from the town. Some are shepherds and they know the region. They fled to Homs.” The Syrian-Orthodox and Syrian-Catholic Bishops of Homs are currently seeking to resolve the problem through contacts, according to Fr Jihad.

In May 2015, one of Fr Jihad’s confreres, Fr Jacques Mourad, was kidnapped in Al Qaryatayn together with Deacon Boutros. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

“We have absolutely no information about Fr Jacques’ condition, or where he is,” said Fr Jihad. “We have tried everything. I do not know how the latest events in Al Qaryatayn will affect our brothers’ situation. If a solution can be found for all of the hostages, perhaps Fr Jacques and Deacon Boutros will be included.”

 

Fr Jihad also expressed his gratitude for the support ACN has provided for Christians in Syria. He said:

“ACN has done so much for us, especially in Al Qaryatayn. We thank the benefactors with all our heart. In particular, I now call on you to pray for our kidnapped brothers and the hostages of Al Qaryatayn. May God bring a change into the hearts of the kidnappers, so that they show mercy to the hostages.”

The charity ACN is particularly active in the Middle East. More than €12 million (£8.4 million) have been spent since the end of 2011 in assistance to the Christians in Syria and Iraq. Recently, ACN has set aside more than €2 million (£1.4 million) for emergency aid in Syria.

Iraqi bishops thank Aid to the Church in Need for building schools for Iraqi refugees.

Iraqi bishops have extended their thanks to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need for its part in setting up schools for refugee children. The schools were erected from prefabricated structures in two Chaldean dioceses and a Syriac-Catholic diocese for the children forced to flee from the terrorist organisation Daesh (ISIS). More than 7200 Christian children are now able to receive their education in what are now eight schools, taught by Christian teachers who also fled Daesh occupied towns. The buildings are also used for catechetical instruction and other church activities.

In a message to ACN, Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda of Erbil expressed his gratitude to benefactors: “We would like to thank you for your kind support for our community during this difficult time, when thousands of Christian families were forced to leave their homes and properties due to the ISIS attack last June to August 2014.

 

“We are especially grateful for your help for our students in building 5 schools for them in our Archdiocese, the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil, which were completed in the city of Ankawa on land owned by our archdioceses.”

 

The Chaldean Bishop of Zakho and Ammadeya, Rabban Al Qas, also thanked ACN, saying: “The Chaldean diocese of Zakho and Ammadeya will take full responsibility for the administration of 2 schools dedicated to internally displaced persons. Thank you so much for your kind help and caring love. We assure you of our prayers for our benefactors and ask for your prayers. May God bless you all with His care and love.”

 

ACN has provided more than 8 million euros in aid for persecuted Christians in Iraq since August 2014. As well as helping support the construction of school buildings, the aid has funded the purchase of temporary shelter and food provisions.

 

New school opening in Ankawa, Erbil, Iraq

 

 

 St. Mary's School at Mar Elya Street (Sacred Heart Sisters)

 

For more information visit www.acnuk.org 

 

6 August: a day of sorrow, but also the day that God saved us

On 6th August 2014, more than 120,000 Christians were forced to flee from their homes as militants from the terrorist organisation Daesh (ISIS) invaded Qaraqosh. The life of the church in Iraq was changed forever as thousands were made to live as destitute refugees inside or outside of the country. To commemorate the day, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is holding an international prayer event to remember those who... are still internally displaced within their homeland one year later.

Speaking to ACN, Baghdad-born Chaldean priest Father Douglas Bazi who works with Iraqi refugees in Erbil added his voice to the call for prayer: “The 6th of August is a day of sorrow, but also the day that God saved us. We are, after all, still alive. We will celebrate a mass. We cannot forget what happened. However, we will ask God to forgive the perpetrators and to change their thinking.”

ACN has been able to support Christian refugees in Iraq in many ways. Immediately following the events of 6th August last year, a delegation travelled to Iraq to assess the situation and since then about 7 million euros* have been spent to house and care for the people and construct a number of schools for refugee children. Today, on 6th August 2015, ACN asks for prayers for Christians in need in Iraq.

 

For more information visit www.acnuk.org

ACN compete in the British 10k London Run

ACN staff and friends did an excellent job this weekend as they participated in the British 10K London run despite the crowds and gloomy weather.

Aid to the Church in Need team members John Pontifex, who is ACN UK’s Head of Press and Information, Kathy Hodgson, Marie Foster and Juan Aguila completed the challenge in aid of raising money to support projects in Syria.

The team have so far raised nearly £2,700 towards their £3,000 target to help to provide emergency support for Christians and others in northern Syria.

The group from ACN were among more than 20,000 who ran past London landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square, before crossing the finish line at Whitehall, just past 10 Downing Street.

The ACN team would like to extend their thanks to all that have sponsored them so far, with one team member describing the amount raised to date as “absolutely astonishing”. 

The money will go towards providing fuel, oil, gas, electricity and rental costs for displaced families in Aleppo and Hassake, two Syrian cities which have often been on the front-line of conflict between government and rebel forces.

For information about ACN’s work in Syria, visit www.acnuk.org/syriacrisis or go to https://www.justgiving.com/team-acn/



Kathy Hodgson & John Pontifex



Juan Aguila

ACN staff and friends to compete for a second time in the British10K London run this weekend.

Staff and friends of Aid to the Church in Need will be dusting off their running shoes again this year as they compete for the second year in a row in the British 10K London run.

ACN UK’s Head of Press and Information John Pontifex will be joined by supporters Kathy, Maria and Juan on Sunday 12^th July to raise money for suffering families in Syria.

Mr Pontifex, who has witnessed the suffering in Syria first hand and is running his fourth race for ACN, said the run was an important way to raise awareness as well as funds.

“The weather’s threatening rain just when we’re running so it’s going to be a bit of a challenge. We’re so close to our final fund-raising target so any last donations would be very gratefully received.”

Families in Syria affected by the violence have been forced to leave their homes and villages and it is thought that as many as 4 million people are internally displaced in the country.

Houses, schools and places of worship have been have been bombed as they are driven out by the Islamic terrorist organisation, Daesh (IS).

As a priority country, ACN has been able to offer emergency aid for displaced people in Syria including food, shelter and pastoral support.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, ACN provided more than £8.5 million (12 million euros) helping the Church in Syria and Iraq.

Marking the 15^th anniversary of the run this year, the route has been adapted to incorporate even more iconic London landmarks including Oxford Circus, St. James's Palace and Big Ben before finishing at Royal Horse Guards & Banqueting House after a final run past the Prime Minister’s residence in Downing Street.

Runners who complete the race will be awarded with a special medal commissioned to mark the anniversary  described as “the best finishers medal of any road race I have ever seen in over 40 years of being involved in athletics” by Event Founder & Director Mike O’Reilly.

ACN has already reached more than 80% of £3,000 target in sponsorship to support future projects in Syria.

If you would like to make a contribution before Sunday’s run, please visit the ACN British 10K London Run 2015 page at https://www.justgiving.com/Team-ACN/ or text LHUU78 to 70070 to donate.

 

Fr Ziad Hilal remembers his kidnapped colleague, Fr Jacques Mourad, in an interview with ACN

Jesuit priest and key project partner Fr. Ziad Hilal, friend of kidnapped Fr. Jacques Mourad, visited the ACN UK offices last Friday and spoke movingly about his missing colleague.

Describing Fr. Mourad as a “figure of leadership” for both Christians and Muslims in Syria, he begged for his friend’s safe return.

He said: “Please, let him go free because he is a good man. He wanted to help the Syrian people.”

Fr. Mourad was kidnapped by armed masked men on 21 May along with a companion. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Fr. Mourad had lived and worked at the monastery of Mar Elian in Qaryatayn and in the hours before his abduction, had sent an email to ACN thanking the charity and its benefactors for their ongoing support.

Since the end of 2011, ACN has been able to donate more £71,000 (100,000 euros) to help displaced Syrians at the monastery of Mar Elian and has provided more than £8.5 million (12 million euros) in aid for the Church in Syria and Iraq.

Please continue to pray for the safe return of Fr. Jacques Mourad and his companion. If you share his story, you can tweet us at @acn_uk using the hashtag #PrayingForFatherMourad.