Thanks to your generosity, we are able tocelebrate something of a landmark event thisyear – the printing of the 50 millionth copyof our ACNChild’s Bible, God speaks to Hischildren. From 1979 onwards this colorfullittle illustrated Bible booklet, so popularwith children, has been distributed in 140countries around the world. Ithas also been translated into nofewer than 172 different locallanguages – like Konkomba inGhana, Mapudungun in Chileand Tetum in East Timor – sothat theWord of God is reachingthe littlest and the poorest of God’s childrenin the most far-flung corners of the earth. Formany of them this children's Bible is the onlybook they have ever possessed, and certainlythe only one they have been able to read intheir very own mother tongue. As oneAfrican bishop said to us, “Man needs breadin order to be able to live, but he also needsthe Word of God in order to want to live.”

In the Holy Scriptures Jesus reveals Himselfto us as the livingWord of God, who is Truthand eternal Life. That is why Saint Jerome

tells us that “ignorance of the Scriptures isignorance of Christ.” Although Jesus, theWord of God, remains unfathomable for usin the fullness of His depth, yet He has spo-ken to us so simply – in images drawn fromnature, in simple tales and parables – thatchildren, too, can understand Him. One littlegirl from Mexico told her teacher, “Mygrandma reads me a Bible story every

evening at bedtime and explains it to me. Ifind that much more beautiful than televi-sion.” And one boy, whowas allowed to take“his” copy of the Child’s Bible home withhim, commented, “Such a beautiful book.Such beautiful stories. I have told God that Iwant to become a missionary, so I can tellpeople about His words.”The simple faith of children can get straightto the heart of the deepest words and mys-teries of God, and actually live them in prac-tice. In the Scriptures, Jesus often remainshidden from the “wise and learned of this

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world,” yet reveals Himself to simple hearts.Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833), oneof the most revered saints of Russia, alreadylamented the situation in his own day, say-ing, “In our days the holy faith has grown solukewarm and the indifference towards Godso great. We have strayed far, very far, fromthe true Christian life. That is why so manyof the words of the Sacred Scriptures have

become quite strange to us. Thisincomprehension springs fromthe fact that, through supposedenlightenment, we have slippedinto such darkness of ignorancethat the things the ancients stillso clearly understood are unfath-

omable to us today.”

Dear friends, let us ask the Holy Spirit to un-lock the Holy Scriptures for us, which areaddressed, like a love-letter from God, toeach one of us individually, so that ourhearts, too, may burn with love for God andfor our neighbor.My grateful blessing on you all,

Father Martin M. BartaEcclesiastical Assistant

Jesus has spoken sosimply that children, too,can understand Him.

There is no greater prioritythan this: to enable thepeople of our time

once more to encounterGod, the God who speaksto us and shares His loveso that we might havelife in abundance.

Pope Benedict XVI,Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini.

“God speaks to His children” – 50 million copies aroundthe globe.The Bible, in children’s language.

No. 5 – August 2012Newsletter

Published eight times a year

ED/2/5/13www.churchinneed.org

Evangelizing – always

and everywhere (Benedict XVI)

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Religious liter

ature

Good News, via the written word

Pakistan. A profound knowledge of the faith is vital, above all for a beleaguered mi-nority. Hence the need for bookshops, like this one, and Bibles in their native Urdu.

The Gospel, the Good News – eventhe very first Pope appealed to his fel-low Christians in these words: “Al-ways be prepared to make a defenseto any one who calls you to accountfor the hope that is in you” (1 Pet.3:15). This of course presupposesboth knowledge of the message andthe willingness to proclaim it.

From Saint Peter onwards, so many popeshave done the same thing, right down to thepresent day. The missionary imperative thatis contained in the expression “Good News”requires an appropriate means of dissemina-tion, above all where the conditions of lifeare difficult. In the northeast of Zimbabwe,for example, in the Diocese of Chinhoyi,where the 100,000-plus Catholics livewidely scattered across the region and can-not afford to travel, a newsletter was formany years the principal means of commu-nication among them. It not only conveyednews about the life of the diocese but alsoprovided teachingmaterial for the catechists.

“Lord, teach us to pray,” the disciples asked Jesus. And He taught them. Soprayer is something that also has to be learnt.

InMerida,Venezuela, Sister TeresitaMedinahas compiled a book for this very purpose; itis intended for children andMass servers. Sec-tion 24 is entitled “I hear your voice” and itruns like this: “Lord, I read in the Gospel howYou said to a little girl: Get up! And the littlegirl got up and walked about. Today I sensethat You are also telling me to get up – when-ever someone needsme, when I have to domyhomework, when I must come to the lessons

I hearYour voice – prayers for altar servers

“Prayer for Disciples” slips easily into apants pocket. But “Disciples andServants” is more suited to a backpack.

for altar servers, when I should be helping athome, when I ought to forgive somebody.Jesus, help me to hear Your voice in such mo-ments, when you are saying to me, too: Youngman, get up! Amen.” In 71 short sections, thebooklet guides us through the day. Through itthousands of young people are learning howto pray. You can help them, with $2,100. Helpthem to discover a listening heart – and formany, perhaps, a vocation as well. •

But then the printing costs soared. Now thealternative is a stark one – either obtain theirown printing machinery, or suffer a drasticloss of teaching opportunity and communitysolidarity.We are funding half the cost of themachinery ($11,400 ).Themost important liturgical book is the fullRoman Missal, and one of the most impor-tant decisions of the Second Vatican Councilwas to authorize the celebration of theLiturgy, and above all HolyMass, in the ver-

nacular. This has led to a new flourishing ofevangelization. InUkraine, this was not pos-sible until after 1991. But what value areChristians to place on the dignity of HolyMass? The elements required for a good altarMissal do not come cheap – good qualitypaper, bookmark ribbons, binding and back-ing (by hand), cover material, the printing it-self; then the shipping costs to the parishes.Or should they be expected instead to cele-brate HolyMass from scraps of paper? ACNis helping, with a contribution of $89,000 –so that the Liturgy can be fittingly celebratedin every single parish.There is a need for Bibles in the mothertongue, for catechetical books and writings,theological books for seminaries… Indeed,“all the baptized, since they are witnesses ofChrist, should receive a training appropriateto their circumstances” (Blessed JohnPaul II). The will is there, but the means areoften lacking. That is where we come in. •

Zimbabwe. Printingtexts for Holy Mass, andfor the community.

Any donation you kindly give will go to support these, or similar projects, and enable the pastoral work of Aid to the Church in Need.

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“Ignorance is the worst enemy of ourFaith,” said Blessed John Paul II.Themedia make it possible to transmitand proclaim the knowledge of thefaith. They can help to promote dia-logue about the values of a society.The electronic media play a specialrole here, since they carry an imme-diate and emotional impact.

This was what the Catholic production com-pany Buena Nueva Comunicacion has setout to achieve – and on an international level– from its base in Rosario, in Argentina. Itis aiming to produce a TV series about thefamily, for distribution across the entire con-tinent, and it also has the blessing of theLatin American bishops The underlyingthemes of the series have a universal validityand include such things as the value of lifeand human dignity: What is love? Why

marry? How to live faithfully? Why suffer-ing?Why is the family somuch under attackin our modern society? Through positive ex-amples, though without preachiness, the se-ries seeks to give the Christian answer tothese questions, to place the Good News incontext. TV productions like this are expen-sive. We are con-tributing $26,200.That works out to$1.28 for every thou-sand viewers at the least – it would be hard toget better value for money than this in bring-ing Christian values to television.

Other countries, like Guinea-Bissau in WestAfrica, or Cambodia in Southeast Asia, facea very different situation however. Here nomore than a tiny minority have access to tel-evision or Internet, but almost everybody hasa radio. Thus, for the 10% or so of Catholics

Guatemala. Battling on the airwavesagainst the inundation of the sects.

Uganda. RadioWa continues to call thechild soldiers home.

India. Priests and laity at the NiscortInstitute, learning to speak on camera.

Media

Good News in sound and picture

inGuinea-Bissau, Radio Sol is the most ef-fective means of communication, and also ofdialogue with the 40%who areMuslims andthe 50%who are adherents of pagan, animistreligions. Radio is often used to tell us aboutour world; Radio Sol is being used to tellabout the Catholic world. And it is finding

an appreciative re-sponse. We are sup-porting the bishopand his team with a

contribution of $13,100, from which he willalso take a small sum for the religious for-mation of journalists.

In Cambodia, once a veritable Golgotha ofthe killing fields, the Church is slowly risingagain from the ruins. “Radio is a means ofevangelization,” writes the Apostolic Vicarin Phnom Penh. “And people are listening toit.” •

Chad. Radio Effata invites all to opentheir ears to the word of God.

“Radio is ameans of evangelization.”

Ukraine.TheWord, spoken on air – via RadioResurrection. And millions are listening, thanksto your help.

Any donation you kindly give will go to support these, or similar projects, and enable the pastoral work of Aid to the Church in Need.

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The blood of the martyrsFor many years now the three letters ACNhave been written on my priestly heart,together with those three words that ha-tred can never destroy and that are thebanner of the Church, which you and Iboth serve and love – faith, hope andcharity.Every Friday the blood of Christ ispoured out – mingling with that of theChristian martyrs that is still shed in alltoo many places – in the Eucharist that Icelebrate here in the house of Saint John,in union with you and in union with theChurch in need.

A priest in France

God’s love, help and blessingRecently I was more than fortunate tohave received an exceedingly high pricefrom a sale of land, hence I felt it my duty

to donate an amount to charity. It had tobe yours of course, ACN. Please find en-closed € 10,000. I would like to take thisopportunity to compliment the publica-tion of your Mirror, it is always read onthe day of arrival!Finally your work in spreading the GoodNews to the four corners of the earthoften under the pain of extreme hunger,civil unrest, persecution, rape, pillageand plunder shows evidentially God’sLove, God’s Help and God’s Blessing incontinuing your great deeds.

A benefactor in Ireland

Spiritual nourishmentMy heartfelt thanks for the prompt ar-rival of the Mirror, which I always readwith great interest as a source of spiritualnourishment.

A benefactor in Germany

Need, love and thanks – Your letters

A sure way for youth“Calea Sigura – The Sure Way” is thetitle of a book that the Catholics inTimisoara,Romania, have been able topublish and distribute, with your help.It is a textbook aimed at the area ofyouth and sexuality.The demand for ithas been strong, even in neighboringdioceses. Father Pal Iosif Csabathanks youwith all his heart for the factthat the book is proving to be such “avaluable instrument for catechesis, re-ligious instruction, youth meetings inthe presbyteries and marriage prepa-ration courses.” It is filling many previ-ous gaps,he adds, for this book is“theonly known material in the Romanianlanguage” on such issues as “purity,friendship, marriage and family.”

Syria – looking into theeyes of the refugeesThe Maronite Archbishop of Damas-cus, Samir Nassar, has seen manyrefugees come and go in the last fewmonths. Looking into their eyes, hecan read the drama now facing theChristians in Syria. Their gaze is “ab-ject, and they do not speak.”Or some-times mutely questioning: “Why me?What have I done?Why my family, myhouse? Where are my friends, myneighbors, my school, my church, mycemetery?” In many eyes there is amixture of appeal and accusation: “Iam innocent,why am I being punishedand for what? Nobody tried to stop themassacre, nobody helped us…”Sometimes again there is resignationand surrender:“I can do nomore; nowI am poor and dependent on others.Thank you for all that you have donefor me. Thy will be done.” But in theeyes of many, for all the misery of lifeas refugees, the Archbishop can alsosee the strength of Faith: “The Lordwill not abandon me.” And he raiseshis eyes to the crucified Lord in hischapel and asks,“Lord, for over a yearnow a merciless struggle has beenraging.You have sent usYour children,but now we ourselves have nothingleft to give.How are we to bear this re-sponsibility?”We have immediately promised emer-gency aid to the Christians in Syria.But it can only be a beginning.

Publisher: Kirche in Not/Ostpriesterhilfe,Aid to the Church in Need, International Headquarters,Postfach 1209, 61452 Königstein, Germany; www.acn-intl.org;Editor-in-chief: Jürgen LiminskiDe licentia competentis auctoritatis ecclesiasticaePrinted in the USA – ISSN 0252-2535

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