Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is a Pontifical Foundation that focuses on assisting the Church wherever it is persecuted, oppressed or in material need. ACN concentrates on supporting local churches, especially in those countries where the Church cannot support herself, or if so, only with great difficulty. Their response to individual requests for assistance that reach them from around the world is determined by the pastoral nature of the project.
THEIR MISSION
As a Catholic charity they support the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in need, through INFORMATION, PRAYER and ACTION.
THEIR VISION
A world in which Christianity can thrive everywhere.
THEIR GUIDELINES
For the love of Christ urges us on. (2 Cor 5.14)
1. They are loyal to the Holy Father. As a Pontifical Foundation they participate in the universal mission of the Church.
2. They serve the cause of evangelisation. They respond courageously to the challenges of the time following the teaching of the Church.
3. They are committed to the persecuted Church. By sharing testimonies of faith they build a bridge of charity between their benefactors and beneficiaries.
4. They are custodians of their benefactors’ generosity. They run a modern, transparent and effective fundraising and administration.
THEIR VALUES
1. Faith and Christian Love: The foundation of all their activities is Christian Faith and Love. This includes their fidelity to the Holy Father and the adherence to both the teachings and institutions of the Catholic Church.
2. Prayer: Regular prayer, personal and common, animates their daily work and strengthens their missionary spirit. It moves them to offer assistance to those who are suffering because of their loyalty to Christ and His Church – on whose prayers they rely as well.
3. Pastoral Commitment: They strive to proclaim the Gospel, be it ‘welcome or unwelcome’ (2 Timothy 4:2), responding courageously to the challenges of the time. They do this when engaging their benefactors and by financing pastoral projects with their contributions.
4. Unity: Conceived as a “bridge of love” from its origins, ACN serves for unity and reconciliation. They create communion with and between both their benefactors and beneficiaries through prayer, providing information and expressing gratitude.
5. Service: They fulfill their mission through mercy and humble service, listening carefully to the needs of their partners. They aspire to be a personal source of comfort and strength to their beneficiaries and benefactors.
6. Openness: Through their support of the Universal Church they promote a respectful dialogue with many cultures around the world. They live this openness themselves in their manifold encounters both within and outside the Catholic Church.
7. Accountability: They handle the funds they receive with the highest care, seeking efficiency and measuring impact both in their funding activities and within their internal organization. They work transparently, showing the sources, uses and achievements of the funds they receive.
8. Trust: Their unshakeable trust in Divine Providence guides them into the future and enables them to place trust in others and, in turn, to be trusted by them. Consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima they are filled with hope and confidence.
