NIGERIA: 'Heroic' staff save pupils as gunmen attack Catholic school at night

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The quick thinking of a headteacher helped save the lives of sleeping students after armed extremists stormed a secondary school in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on Tuesday (7^th May) night.

Father Emmanuel Ogwuche, principal at Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School in Makurdi, promptly switched off all the lights in the building after hearing gunshots outside, preventing the terrorists from finding their way inside the school.

An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps guarding the school in Benue State “jumped over the fence” and “the gunmen went after him, but he managed to escape” with non-fatal injuries, Father Moses Iorapuu, Director of Social Communications at Makurdi Diocese told ACN.

Father Iorapuu said that unidentified extremists opened fire at the co-educational Catholic school while the pupils were asleep inside the building.

He added:

“There were so many gunshots and they were shooting for a very long time.

“We were lucky and the Lord was kind to us that no student was hit.”

Father Iorapuu said that the pupils have been “traumatised” and “there is fear” of further atrocities, highlighting: “This attack was the first of its kind we’ve experienced.

“They have attacked churchgoers, farmers and villagers before, but now they have upped their game, attacking a school.”

“We are not sure what is going to happen next.”

To read the full article click here.

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ACN Pilgrimage

ACN Pilgrim Paths to Durham: 22^nd - 27^th July

An exciting opportunity to join ACN and Anglo-Saxon specialist, Suze Matthews to travel the pilgrim paths of the early church in Durham, Lindisfarne, Escomb, Ruthwell and Jarrow with Saints Cuthbert and Bede. For more information on the pilgrimage and cost please click on our pilgrimage brochure link below.

Spaces are now limited, so to express interest, please contact ACN Pilgrimage Director Teresa Kehoe at teresa.kehoe@acnuk.org.

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ACN Events

Summer Art Exhibition Private View:

19^th, 23^rd May 6:30pm to 8pm at Farm Street Church

ACN is delighted that Hazel Leach, Elizabeth Duncanmeyer and Runima Kakoty have organised two private art viewings in aid of Farm Street Church and ACN.

Please do come and view their beautiful pieces, with a portion of proceeds from sales going to ACN and Farm Street. Please let us know if you can make it by emailing events@acnuk.org.

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Benefactors’ Day Livestream Mass:

Friday 7^th June - 6pm

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Please join the livestream here.

Benefactor & Friends Carfin Event

1^st August from 12pm - 2:30pm at Carfin Grotto, Motherwell

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Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima - 13^th May

ACN's work is consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima. During her apparitions in Fatima from May to October 1917 on 13^th of each month, Our Lady called on us, the faithful, to pray the Rosary daily and to promote the Five First Saturdays devotion in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and in reparation for the sins of the world.

With her Feast Day coming up soon, we would be touched and grateful if you could offer a Rosary for the work of ACN and for divine assistance to grow our important mission of love.

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Holy Land Olive Wood Standing Cross

Cross: 21cm x 13cm

New to our crucifixes and crosses product range we have this lovely olive wood standing cross which was handmade in the Holy Land.

This handmade olive wood cross features four symbolic elements from the Holy Land:

Soil
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Stones
Frankincense

You can browse more products like this and all our handmade products that come from our project countries by clicking the link below. These products are perfect for a gift idea or for your own home.

Handmade products from project countries

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