UKRAINE: Two years on...

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Desperate Ukrainian families torn apart by the war look to the Church for support – but the clergy are also under huge pressure and need urgent help – according to a bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).

Speaking on the eve of the second anniversary of the conflict, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Head of the UGCC’s Pastoral Council and Bishop of the Eparchy of Holy Family of London, told ACN that an initiative called ‘Healing the Wounds of War’ is a priority for Ukrainian bishops around the world.

Speaking at a press conference followed by an interview with ACN at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in London’s Mayfair yesterday (Thursday, 22^nd February), Bishop Nowakowski said that supporting displaced and broken families is the Church’s primary focus – but the “clergy family” providing pastoral care also need assistance.

He added that the Church is developing training programmes for clergy in Ukraine and beyond “who, day in and day out have to be dealing with funerals and having to counsel” victims of war.

Bishop Nowakowski explained that seminaries do not prepare clergy for the highly demanding trauma counselling duties which is required of many of them.

He added: “We cannot make priests psychiatrists or psychologists in six easy lessons.

“But we can at least prepare them to be able to direct people to the right places to receive help and [assist them to cope with] the effects of hearing these stories and having to deal with so many deaths – not just ordinary, normal deaths but people dying in war.”

ACN has supported 600 projects in Ukraine in the last two years, including 11 counselling and pastoral centres, as well as summer camps for children and heating systems for Church buildings sheltering IDPs (internally displaced people).

Continue reading the full article here.

Help support suffering Christians in Ukraine

ACN News

HOLY LAND: Crisis for Christians lurches from bad to worse

An empty shopping street in Muristan, near Jerusalem’s Old City. (© ACN / A.H. Fritsch)

Christians in the Holy Land are struggling to put food on the table and pay their household bills as increasing conflict and tension plunge the region into unprecedented crisis.

Sources close to ACN also highlighted an upsurge in acts of religious hatred, warning that Christians have faced threats and have been forced to conceal their religious identity.

The ACN sources, which have asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, described how many Christians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are facing financial ruin, with unemployment running at a record 72 percent.

ACN sources have confirmed reports that 80,000 Indian workers are expected to arrive in the country to take over jobs formerly held by Palestinians – a move seen as marginalising Muslims and Christians alike.

In response to the growing crisis facing Christians, ACN has provided emergency aid – food coupons, life-saving medicine and help with housing costs and tuition fees – for 3,448 Christians across the Holy Land who have lost their livelihoods.

Continue reading the full news article here.

Visit our Holy Land Appeal page

ACN Lent

Gifts of Faith

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving are the three pillars of our Lenten observance. Fasting cleanses our bodies and focuses our minds on things of the spirit, Prayer brings us closer to Our Lord and Almsgiving is a denial of self to help others.

To support your Lenten journey – you can find some great ACN prayer resources here. We also have some wonderful ACN Lenten Gifts of Faith where you can be assured that your generous gift this Lent will provide vital support to Christian families in the Holy Land, Ukraine, Nigeria, Liberia, other parts of the world and where the need is greatest. Find out more about our Gifts of Faith here.

Discover our Lenten Gifts of Faith

ACN Shop

Lent & Easter Gifts

Rosary length: 60cm, Beads: 6mm

This week we are featuring this beautiful Bohemian style Rosary made up of lustre glass beads with a two-tone pearly finish. The centre piece features Mary maternally embracing Jesus within an artistic frame.

The Rosary comes in a presentation box with an authenticity booklet made in Italy, making it a perfect gift idea this Lenten season and is available to purchase here.

Right now for Lent & Easter we have a selection of fantastic cards, gifts, books and jewellery which can be purchased from our online shop. Your purchases will support suffering Christians around the world.

Lent & Easter product range

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Weekly Live Angelus on Instagram

We will be holding an Angelus every Wednesday at 12pm on Instagram Live. Join us as we pray for persecuted and suffering Christians around the world.

Scan the QR code to our Instagram profile and give us a follow, then select 'Weekly Angelus' in our bio to get a reminder so that you don't miss our next Angelus!

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