The pastoral character of ACN is its central feature. In everything they do, the co-workers of ACN should seek to imitate Jesus the Good Shepherd, who gave his life for the redemption of mankind. Hence, the greater glory of God, concern for the entire human person, with body and soul, and the salvation of each individual must always be the ultimate aim of ACN’s actions, according to the measure of Christ’s love. This pastoral mission lends a deep, divine meaning to all the charitable, social, economic and technical aspects of ACN’s support. God’s help and salvation is the basis and prerequisite for the alleviation of every need. Consequently, because the spiritual comes before the material and the eternal before the temporal, evangelisation comes before develop- ment aid, redemption through the Cross before
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