Syria: 40 new reasons for hope

TEN-year-old Jeries Habib and his Maronite in a part of the city brother, Elia, eight, from Maloula, where Christians had been targeted the hilltop Christian town in Syria, by extremists. have good reason to smile as a fresh The nave was badly damaged when a programme of ACN aid gets underway bomb fell through the roof. Sr Annie Demerjian across the country. Nearly 500 Christian families have Thanks to you, ACN has just approved returned to the town of Qusayr, 40 new projects. devastated by fi ghting. At Sr Annie’s request, an electric The aid – including food, shelter, ACN has off ered to repair 100 wheelchair has been provided for a medicine, repair of churches and homes there and, with your help, house-bound elderly woman. support for clergy and catechesis – we can repair many more. Sr Annie said: “Seven years have provide 40 new reasons for hope in a More aid will provide food, passed since the war began and people country, which has suff ered so much for toiletries, medicine, clothes and continue to face all kinds of troubles – so long. shoes for poverty-stricken elderly tiredness and suff ering – but because In response to a desperate plea and disabled Christians in Aleppo of your help we are able to stand for help as people start to return to supported by Sr Annie Demerjian beside our people and make their Aleppo, ACN is helping to repair the and her nine volunteers. burden lighter.”

Helping the suff ering Church today Aid to the Church in Need www.acnuk.org Ray of light: ACN’s fresh aid for Syria

The finishing touches to restoration work at the church in Qusayr damaged by Daesh (ISIS) extremists

Aleppo – Food baskets for 3,280 ACN’s new aid programme for Syria The students had to move to a new site families aims to help Christians stay in a country aft er their premises came under threat, Homs, Hama and Yabroud – Mass where the Faith dates back to St Paul close to the front-line in the confl ict. stipends for priests and Christ’s disciples. Several students died at the height of Aleppo – Repair of Maronite A quarter of the 40 projects just the violence involving the neighbouring cathedral hit by a bomb approved by ACN provide help for young Eastern Ghouta district but the situation Damascus – Supporting the people such as 2,000 catechisms in calmed aft erwards and students are education of 1,270 students Latakia, a retreat for 70 young faithful determined to continue their studies. Aleppo – Aid for families supported in Aleppo, and support for university ACN Middle East projects coordinator by Sr Annie Demerjian students in Aleppo and Homs. Father Andrzej Halemba said: “Youth Qusayr – Repair of 100 homes ACN is supporting 1,270 students at have lived for years in an environment Yabroud – Medicine for elderly, the Al Riaya School, in Damascus, run of war and tension is very high. We disabled and children by the St Jean Antide Sisters. need to help them now.”

Staff and pupils at the Al Riaya School, Damascus – Thanks to you, ACN is able to invest in the young people’s future

Aid to the 12-14 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4DA Reports and photographs Church in Need Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifi cal Foundation of the by John Pontifex/ACN and a registered charity in and © Aid to the Church in Need (August 2018) www.acnuk.org Wales (1097984) and Scotland (SC040748) www.acnuk.org/syria Aid to the ACN EVENTS – OCTOBER 2018 Church in Need Join Aid to the Church in Need in prayer and action around the UK

www.acnuk.org/events

This October, join Aid to the Church in Need as, once again, we welcome guests from the persecuted Church around the world to hear untold stories of courage and faith and how your support is making a diff erence. We are also delighted to welcome a high profi le journalist speaking on Christian persecution, Religious Freedom and the Media. Invited speakers include: Archbishop Angaelos Martin Bashir Sister Luma Khudher OP of London Journalist Martin Bashir, Dominican Sister, Sister xxx His Eminence is BBC’s religious aff airs Luma, joins us from Iraq Archbishop Angaelos, correspondent. He to update us on the return the fi rst Coptic Orthodox has had a high profi le of families to the Christian Archbishop of London career in the UK and villages of the Nineveh Plains and a good friend of Aid Archbishop the USA and will draw and how ACN benefactors are Sister Luma Angaelos Kudher to the Church in Need on his extensive media Martin Bashir helping them to rebuild their will speak about how experience to comment lives and their future. Christianity in Egypt – by tradition founded on the issues of Christian persecution by Mark the Apostle – is surviving, despite and religious freedom today. From Pakistan we have invited targeted attacks from extremists. individuals with direct experience of persecution in relation to the controversial Blasphemy Laws. DIARY DATES: ACN’S ANNUAL NORTH WEST OCTOBER EVENTS IN: Talks on the Suff ering Church Thursday 4th October at 7.30pm – 9pm An Aft ernoon of Talks Lancaster University Catholic Chaplaincy LA1 4YW on the Suff ering Church Featuring guest speakers from the persecuted Church Sunday 7th October at 3pm

SCOTLAND Free Entry with a collection for ACN’s work St Columba's, Plas Newton Lane, ACN Lunchtime Reception Chester CH2 1SA th Schools Q&A Monday 8 October 12pm – 2pm Featuring guest speakers from the Friday 5th October 1pm – 2.30pm Dalziel Building, 7 Scott Street, Motherwell ML1 1PN persecuted Church St Columba’s Catholic Church, Plas Newton Lane, Talks, Presentations and Q&A with Guest Chester, CH2 1SA For more information and to register speakers from the persecuted Church A chance for pupils (Year 9 and above) to meet and your interest, please contact ACN’s A chance to meet and speak with guest speakers question Christians from the persecuted Church NW Off ice at nw.off [email protected] or over lunch. A light lunch will be provided. about the reality of their lives and experiences. on 01524 388739 Spaces are extremely limited and by ticket only Free entry to registered schools so register soon. For more information or to register interest, LONDON Free Entry with a collection for ACN’s work please email [email protected] Annual Westminster Event Scottish Benefactor Event NW Benefactors’ Weekend Holy Mass at Westminster Monday 8th October 7pm – 9pm Holy Mass for Persecuted Christians th Cathedral Talks, Presentations and Q&A with Guest speakers Saturday 6 October at 12 noon th from the persecuted Church Saturday 13 October 2018 at 10.30am Cathedral, Town Walls, Shrewsbury Victoria Street, London SW1P 1LT St Joseph’s Hall, Kilmarnock KA3 1HB SY1 1TE Free Entry with a collection for ACN’s work Followed by an aft ernoon of talks from Please join us as we pray together for suff ering 12pm – 4pm in Cathedral Hall Christians around the world. Mark Davies Motherwell Diocese Schools Event Tickets: £10 each Wednesday 10th October 12.30pm – 2.30pm will be the chief celebrant; the guest preacher will Talks, Presentations and Q&A with Guest speakers share personal experiences of struggling Christians You are advised to book tickets early from the persecuted Church in his own country. A light lunch will be provided by using our Reply Slip, by calling Aid GLO Centre, Motherwell ML1 1BN. aft erwards in t he Cathedral's Orchard Café. to the Church in Need on 020 8642 8668 or by visiting www.acnuk.org/events. All of our October Events have limited availability High Mass at St Mary's Cathedral th Tickets will be posted closer to the event for tickets. To avoid disappointment, please visit Sunday 7 October 10:30am date. our Events page at www.acnuk.org/events to Cathedral, Regent Street, Wrexham register for your tickets. Alternatively telephone LL11 1RB Tea and biscuits will be provided. Lunch Clair Sweeney on 01698 337472 or email Bishop will be the chief celebrant; is available from nearby cafes or you may [email protected] the guest preacher will share personal experiences prefer to bring a packed lunch. Please do of struggling Christians in his own country. Light visit ACN’s stall for our full range of 2018 refreshments in the Cathedral Hall will follow. Christmas cards, gift s, books and music. Please keep in touch with us

020 8642 8668 [email protected] www.acnuk.org @acn_uk facebook.com/acnuk Autumn and Winter Events www.acnuk.org/events

Eucharistic Congress – NORTH WEST schools in the NW. The exhibition Liverpool Echo Arena ACN NW Walks for Iraq Update: adapts to fi t any available space and You can still sponsor Caroline and comes with prayer and classroom Friday 7th – Sunday 9th September Bridget from our North West Off ice as resources. If your school would like to Watch out for ACN’s presentation they set out on the fi nal leg of their host this moving display for a week, on Saturday and visit our stall sponsored walks for Iraq. They will please contact Bridget Huddleston – aft erwards. Look out for us too [email protected] in the Youth Auditorium. walk from Wrexham to on September 14th and 15th, stopping overnight with the SCOTLAND ACN EVENTS Poor Clares in Ellesmere. Please be Scottish Touring Exhibition as generous as you can to help Iraq's Why not host this touring exhibition Christians rebuild their lives on the at your parish or school and raise Nineveh Plains. You can sponsor funds for the children of Syria. ACN Caroline and Bridget through the NW Portraits of Faith is an exhibition of Off ice: email nw.off [email protected], drawings created by Syrian children phone 01524 388 739 or JustGiving as part of a peace initiative by ACN www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ project partners. To get involved walks4iraq please contact Clair Sweeney, ACN NW Syrian Drawings Exhibition Schools & Events Coordinator – for Schools: Autumn slots are still [email protected] or call available for primary and secondary 01698 337472 #REDWEDNESDAY ‒ 28th November 2018 North West Sunday 25th November - Walk of Witness for Religious Freedom in Manchester (tbc). Details to follow. 28th November 2018 – #RedWednesday Mass for Persecuted Child of War – Art Exhibition Christians by Syrian Children at 6pm at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, 339 Oxford Road, Manchester Kindly supported by John Lewis and Waitrose Art Club M13 9PG Tuesday 25th – Sunday 30th September 12pm – 6pm All Saints Church, Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG Scotland All Saints is a magnifi cent Anglican Church noted for its Get ready to Stand Up for Faith and Anglo-Catholic worship and choir. An ornate Victorian Freedom Gothic building designed in 1850 by William Butterfi eld. ACN Red Wednesday Event in the Nearest tube: Oxford Circus. Scottish Parliament To register your interest [email protected] Wednesday 28th November 5.30pm – 8pm London Schools’ Sixth Form Conference A Multi-Faith Event with Guest Speakers th Thursday 11 October 10am – 2.30pm (TBC), Talks and a Q&A Session. The London Oratory School, Seagrave Road, London, An Executive Summary of ACN's Report SW6 1RX on Religious Freedom 2018 will be Talks from a Member of Parliament and guests from the London • Saturday 24th October - Walk of Witness available to take home. persecuted Church. Student workshops on the issues of on Oxford Street. Starting from All justice, human dignity and Catholic Social Teaching will A light buff et and refreshments will Saints, Margaret Street, 7 Margaret St, be provided. add value to the A-Level curriculum – particularly Religious Fitzrovia, London W1W 8JG. Please wear Studies, Theology and Philosophy and Ethics. To book something red. This event requires an invitation your places please contact: [email protected] th on arrival. If you are interested in • Wednesday 28 November – attending, please contact Clair Carol Service with the Schola Cantorum of the #RedWednesday Prayer Rally. On th Sweeney on 01698 337472 or email London Oratory directed by Charles Cole with organ the evening of 28 , please join ACN [email protected]. with and brass ensemble in central London for a high visibility your contact details for us to send Prayer Rally and procession with guests 13th December 2018 at 7pm you an invitation. from the persecuted Church. This will be Farm Street Church, 14 Mount Street, Mayfair, London followed by a short programme of talks, Register Interest [email protected] W1K 3AH fi lm and music outside Westminster For #RedWednesday updates, ACN’s hugely popular annual Carol Service followed by Cathedral. This is the chance for detailed timings and information seasonal refreshments in the hall. Christians to be visible and to Stand on all events visit: Free entry: Collection for ACN’s work in Syria, Iraq, Up for Faith and Freedom. Pledge you www.acnuk.org/events or sign up Nigeria and Pakistan attendance and support at to our enewsletter at To register your interest [email protected] www.acnuk.org/redwednesday www.acnuk.org/newsletter

Aid to the 12-14 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4DA All photographs by Aid to the Church in Need except where noted. Church in Need Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifi cal Foundation of the Catholic Church © Aid to the Church in Need (August 2017) and a registered charity in England and Wales (1097984) and Scotland (SC040748) www.acnuk.org