In the midst of persecution, PHILIPPINES www.acnuk.org/philippines faith flourishes Reaching Seminarians in the Philippines shown with Archbishop Martin Jumoad of Ozamis (centre, purple chasuble), seminary tutors and ACN staff. The Archdiocese of Lingayen- Seminary is currently undergoing a huge seminarians entered when it opened its Dagupan has seen a rapid increase extension. Construction of the original doors in June 2013. Today there are 40 out in Faith in vocations to the priesthood. seminary began in 2012 and it was young men seeking to follow Our Lord Mary Help of Christians Theological consecrated the following year. Just 13 and minister to his flock. Beyond Conflict and Despair ACN projects in the St Mary’s Cathedral, Marawi showing the damage caused by Maute, an Islamist organisation allied to Daesh (ISIS). AT LEAST 20 people died and had been displaced – including more Philippines include: more than 100 were injured in than 8,000 children. the Philippines when bombers Despite St Mary’s Cathedral being • Bishop de la Peña’s initiatives: struck during morning Mass devastated, Bishop Edwin de la Peña • Rehabilitation centre for at Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Marawi has deferred rebuilding hostage survivors of the Cathedral in Jolo. it to focus on rebuilding shattered Marawi siege. Islamist groups claimed responsibility lives instead. • Vehicles for Youth for Peace. for the January 2019 attack – and may In Marawi ACN is helping the Church to: have been responsible for an attack on a • Support those forced from their homes • Ongoing emergency aid for mosque in the same city a fortnight later. • Provide counselling for the traumatised displaced persons in Marawi. Jolo Cathedral’s Father Romeo Saniel • Build bridges between Christians told ACN: “No words can describe and Muslims. • Help rebuilding the Cathedral of the sorrow and pain that we feel Inside you will also read about other Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Jolo. these days.” ways the charity is helping, including At the time, the Church was still support for Sisters and seminarians – • Extending Mary Help of helping survivors of the five-month and helping rebuild Jolo Cathedral. Christians Theological Seminary. siege of Marawi by Islamist extremists, Your support means that ACN • Providing equipment for during which St Mary’s Cathedral was can go some way to answering Carmelite Sisters to begin destroyed. Jihadists posted footage of Pope Francis’ prayer to “convert themselves ransacking the cathedral. the hearts of the violent, and grant baking Mass wafers. Bishop de la Peña with a damaged crucifix Jonathan Luciano, national director of ACN (Philippines), at the building site of the new Carmel By the time government troops took the inhabitants of that region a of St Joseph in Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese, which the charity is also helping to construct. back control of Marawi, 27,000 families peaceful coexistence.” Aid to the Aid to the 12-14 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4DA Reports by John Newton and Citra Abbott Helping the suffering Church today Church in Need Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church All photographs by Aid to the Church in Need Church in Need and a registered charity in England and Wales (1097984) and Scotland (SC040748) © Aid to the Church in Need (April 2019) www.acnuk.org Printed by Cliffe Enterprises, Eastbourne BN22 8UY www.acnuk.org And so the healing begins… Providing spiritual “What are the worst things that a person could experience as a hostage sustenance for a of a terrorist? How can one narrate a series of nightmares?” Lerma* is still wondering if she is ‘healing’, hungry flock having been held by Daesh (ISIS)-linked Maute extremists in 2017, during the siege of Marawi. With a desire to provide more She was forced to witness horrific violence than two million Catholic faithful including the prolonged sexual assault of a with the spiritual sustenance of young woman. “That one almost broke my the Eucharist, Carmelite nuns heart into pieces, if that is possible.” on Luzon Island have embarked She described “praying fervently the on a project to bake unleavened Rosary in softest whispers so that the wafers for the Mass. ISIS guards a few metres away couldn’t They hope to provide them “for hear you.” every Eucharistic celebration in the Such physical and psychological violence 109 parishes in our diocese, with 223 leaves scars that will take years to heal. priests ministering to the more than So Bishop de la Peña set up the Hapitanan two million Catholics.” ACN was able Rehabilitation Centre, which is caring for to provide the equipment that will casualties of the 2017 siege – including 175 also enable the 16 Sisters to support Nuns on Luzon Island will join Sisters around the Christian hostage survivors. themselves financially – including world, like this one shown in Uruguay, that ACN Counselling services include group and has helped towards self-sufficiency by providing three Sisters who are elderly and in unleavened wafer baking machinery. individual therapy sessions for women and need of special care. girls who have been raped, for men who have fallen victim to violence, and for children who need to be reintegrated into daily life following the terrible experiences they have suffered. Thanks to your love, ACN has been able to back the bishop’s initiative to heal the deep wounds left by extremism. *Not her real name. ACN staff meeting displaced families. The bricks have fallen Building bridges down, but we in friendship will build with and faith hewn stones… Young Muslims and Christians are working together to help those made homeless by Maute and forge a peaceful future. (Isaiah 9:10) The Youth for Peace project has offering practical assistance to those in keeping them away from the “persuasive been building bridges between the refugee camps. tentacles of extremism”. Work to rebuild the Cathedral of the Christian and Muslim The project encourages resilience The young people themselves Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo communities since government among those volunteers from displaced have said that by working together – following the Islamist terrorist forces re-took Marawi in families, who have been victims of violent Christians and Muslims alike – they have attacks of January this year – which October 2017. extremism and who can then share their come to understand each other’s beliefs, killed 20 people and wounded more The project currently has 174 stories and coping strategies with members while being strengthened at the same than 100 – is now underway with volunteers – including from Christian of their own families and communities. time in their own faith. the help of ACN. families displaced by the violence and According to Bishop de la Peña, it ACN has provided two vehicles, a van Muslim students from Mindanao State was also important to train teenage and a transporter for the project. Further Jonathan Luciano, national director of ACN (Philippines), during a survey of the damage at Jolo Cathedral. University. The youth work together, Muslims to become “peace catalysts”, aid is planned. 0345 646 0110 @acn_uk @acnuk Please offer hope by making a kind donation to support these and other similar projects around the world www.acnuk.org/philippines.