VATICAN: Pope praises ACN’s devotion to persecuted Christians

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POPE Leo XIV has stressed the importance of ACN’s commitment to supporting persecuted Christians at a time when they and other religious minorities are falling victim to increased violence and discrimination.

At a private audience today (Friday, 10^th October) in the Vatican with leaders and other senior staff from ACN, the Pontiff stressed the centrality of religious freedom as a fundamental human right.

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The full size icon presented to the Pope by Dr Hull is available in the ACN Gift shop.

"More than thirty armed men on motorcycles burst into the compound and quickly surrounded the parish church where Mass was being held, vandalising everything and torching it.” - Fr Olivier Lompo told ACN.

With more than 100,000 displaced people driven out of their homes in this incident by terrorists, something needs to be done to protect them.

A donation today can help ACN to support the construction of a chaplaincy centre for priests and Sisters to minister to those affected and to give them a place where they can finally feel safe.

DONATE TO GIVE THEM HOPE

ACN #TEAMRED

SONGS OF PRAISE - ST JOSEPH'S WETHERBY

Raising their voices in song to create awareness, the parish of St Joseph's, Wetherby will be hosting a 'Songs of Praise' on Saturday 29^th November at 3pm to support #RedWednesday.

We love how communities are getting involved in creative ways as part of #TeamRed. If you are local, please show your support by attending this event, which will include refreshments as well as a raffle with proceeds going to #RedWednesday.

SONGS OF PRAISE

If you and your community are taking action by joining #TeamRed in creative ways, let us know what you are doing and we can share your story in an upcoming Enews.

ACN IMPACT

ERBIL UNIVERSITY GRADUATION - THANKS TO YOU!

Erbil University Graduation Class of 2025

The video above was taken on 30th September, as 114 students of ACN-funded Catholic University of Erbil in Iraq (CUE) celebrated their graduation in front of church leaders, government officials and their families.

Among these graduates were the first recipients of the Pope Francis Scholarship, that was launched by ACN back in 2022. Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, chairman of the university’s board of trustees thanks you, our benefactors for making it possible.

It is benefactors like you who have made it possible for these 114 students to have access to further education and give them a stake in Iraq's future. Your support makes a difference.

ACN EVENTS

#REDWEDNESDAY MASS - 19TH NOVEMBER, 5:30PM

This week, a Ukrainian icon created during the height of the conflict was solemnly blessed at a UK military cathedral, having made it safely out of the country.

The icon of Our Lady of Victories, made with help from ACN was blessed at St Michael and St George’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Aldershot by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski and Bishop Paul Mason.

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Please join us for Holy Mass this #RedWednesday as we return to St George’s Cathedral in London for a special evening of prayer, music, awards, guests, hope and action under the glow of red light.

Click the button below to register your attendance to our #RedWednesday Mass:

ACN SHOP

OUR LADY OF VICTORIES POCKET ICON

Earlier this week, the Our Lady of Victories Ukrainian Icon was blessed in Hampshire, having survived its treacherous journey from Ukraine.

To celebrate we have this pocket icon replica available in our gift shop, along with a full size replica which earlier today ACN presented to the Pope as a gift. This icon was reproduced in Ukraine and made on a traditional wooden base in accord with the iconographic Byzantine style.

OUR LADY OF VICTORIES ICON

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