This year, the ACN Ireland Week of Witness will be held between Sunday the 16th and Sunday the 23rd of November. Red Wednesday is on the 19th of November. The Week of Witness is an invitation to Christians across the island of Ireland to stand in solidarity with and bear witness to the heroic example of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Faith across the world.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was founded in Germany in 1947 as a Catholic aid charity for war refugees. The Charity has grown over the years and today has national offices in 23 countries. The Irish office was established in 1989. ACN was re-founded as a Pontifical Charity by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011. It is dedicated to the service of Christians around the world, wherever they are suffering persecution or oppression because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
ACN supports every year an average of 6,000 projects in close to 150 countries, through the prayers, generosity, and volunteering work of those who support us in our mission.
Projects range from big to small and include the construction and repair of churches and other parish buildings; supporting the formation of priests, religious and lay missionaries; providing cars, motorcycles and other means of transportation to help clergy and other parish pastoral workers reach remote areas of the world and minister to the needs of their faith communities; providing bibles, rosary beads and catechetical resources to nurture the faith of people of all ages; and assisting refugees and persecuted people by providing material help and pastoral care to victims of war and religious persecution.
Whether assisting orphans in Sudan or helping Christians in the very land of the Child of Bethlehem’s birth - so incredibly devastated by recent atrocities - ACN helps fan the flame of faith in today’s disturbed and war weary world.
Every year, Aid to the Church in Need hosts a Week of Witness, a week of campaigning and prayer for persecuted Christians around the world. This year’s Week of Witness begins on 16th November and runs through to 23rd November.
Since 2016, the Wednesday during the Week of Witness has become known as Red Wednesday. This year, Red Wednesday falls on 19th November. Red is the liturgical colour for the feast days of martyrs, representing the blood of those who suffered death for their faith. On Red Wednesday, where possible, cathedrals, churches, and public buildings around the world will be lit up in red to show solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters.
On Red Wednesday (19th November next), wear something red - a scapular, tie, scarf or jumper - to show solidarity with the suffering Church and to remember the blood lost by Christians in defense of their faith.
By praying, fasting, and attending Mass regularly for an end to persecution and war wherever in the world there is division and strife.
By blessing yourself in public, when having a meal, passing a Catholic church, or in a graveyard, for all those around the world who cannot bless themselves in public for fear of their safety.
By asking our elected representatives to defend the rights of those who suffer discrimination and persecution because of their faith.
By subscribing to ACN Ireland’s Mirror magazine, published monthly, and by donating or volunteering from time to time to support and promote the work of ACN.
Making a donation to help in our work for persecuted Christians globally. Your donations constitute a powerful corporal work of mercy.
