Home » Projects » EXISTENCE AID » Success story: Subsistence aid for 34 Dominican sisters

Success story: Subsistence aid for 34 Dominican sisters

For seven hours a day, the 34 Dominican sisters in Benguela pray the canonical hours.

They pray for the church and for all of humanity. They live secluded from the world and in poverty, but say, “We are aware of the greatness of our calling. In our enclosure, we offer up our lives to God to magnify His Kingdom and save souls.”

To make a modest living, the sisters bake communion wafers and sew liturgical vestments. They tried their hand at a small pastry shop, but it was not a success. The raw materials were so expensive that the revenue did not even cover the costs and so they were operating at a loss. And misfortune has recently befallen them again: the vegetables they grow in their garden, the maize, the tomatoes and the onions, were afflicted by disease. The sisters were in desperate straits. They did not know how they would be able to go on and prayed to God for help.

 

Dominican Sisters
Dominican Sisters of “Mãe de Deus” in Benguela

 

At times, God works through other people. And so our benefactors donated 9,000 euros to help the sisters. They were overjoyed when they received the aid. They wrote to us, “It was a great surprise and we are filled with joy at the amount that you have sent us! We are very, very grateful for the generosity of our benefactors. This is a sign of Divine Providence, which always watches over us. We hope that all of our benefactors are blessed with God’s bountiful grace and His mercy and assure you that all of our prayers, our affection and gratitude are yours.”

Don't miss the latest updates!

From forgiveness to uncertainty: the story of a priest in southern Lebanon

Fr Youssef Semaan watches on as the conflict in Lebanon…

Statement By The President Of Aid to The Church In Need (ACN)

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has received with…

Pope and African bishops decry murder of Mozambican prelate

Bishop Osório Citora Afonso was a friend and collaborator of…

MOZAMBIQUE: Bishop of Quelimane shot dead at residence

The Bishop Osório Cítora Afonso, of Quelimane, Mozambique, was shot…

Jihadists are trying to establish a caliphate in northern Mozambique, says bishop

Villagers in Cabo Delgado used to be united despite their…

FIFA World Cup: 14 of the competing nations are marked by religious persecution or discrimination

As 48 countries prepare to battle for the World Cup, religious freedom remains an elusive goal for one in every three nations competing. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place...

From forgiveness to uncertainty: the story of a priest in southern Lebanon

Fr Youssef Semaan watches on as the conflict in Lebanon empties his village and threatens decades of coexistence between Christians and Muslims. The war in southern Lebanon is damaging more...

Statement By The President Of Aid to The Church In Need (ACN)

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has received with deep concern the urgent appeal issued by His Excellency Archbishop Georges Iskandar, Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Tyre, regarding the...