Activity Report 2024

Mass stipends

In many regions, the faithful are so poor that they cannot support their priests. Even the bishops often lack the financial means to provide their priests with a regular wage. In these areas, Mass stipends are often their only means of existential help. Mass stipends are monetary donations connected with the request to celebrate Holy Mass for the deceased and the sick or other concerns of the benefactors. In 2024, a total of 1,836,591 Holy Masses were celebrated in the intentions of our benefactors. In this way, we were able to support a total of 42,252 priests – on average, about every tenth priest – worldwide. The distribution of the Mass stipends reflects the conditions of poverty on the continents. In the reporting year, 39,6% of the Mass stipends went to Africa,

» For some priests, Mass stipends are the only source of income. «

28,5% to Asia and the Near and Middle East, 21,9% to Latin America and 10% to Central and Eastern Europe. By focusing Mass prayers on deceased or sick rela- tives, on people who are experiencing life crises or on certain issues our donors may be facing, they take part in the Eucharistic celebration in a very special way. With this kind of donation, many of our benefactors recognise the profound spiritual purpose of uniting their charity with Church prayers. As a basic principle, 100% of the Mass stipends are forwarded to the intended recipients. On average, a Holy Mass is celebrated every 17 seconds for the in- tentions of ACN benefactors somewhere in the world.

Seminarians from the Kyiv Greek-Catholic Seminary in Knyazhychi, Ukraine.

ACN Activity Report 2024 | 17 Mass stipends |