Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniat

Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniat (from the Latin 'Adveniat regnum tuum', 'Thy kingdom come') is the Latin America aid organisation of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 1961 by a decision of the German Bishops' Conference, it is based in Essen and operates as a non-profit registered association (e. V.). Its mission is grounded in the principles of the 'option for the poor' and 'help towards self-help', and it supports more than 1,000 projects each year across Central and South America and the Caribbean. Adveniat's work spans holistic development, parish and church life, social and health services, peace, human rights and the environment, and emergency relief. It focuses on crisis regions that often receive no other support, with particular attention to young people, women, the sick and indigenous communities. The organisation describes itself as a bridge between the people of Latin America and the people of Germany. The annual nationwide Advent and Christmas campaign is central to Adveniat's public profile, bringing the realities of life in Latin America and the Caribbean to Catholic parishes and German civil society. In the 2023/2024 financial year the organisation approved €33.8 million for over 1,000 projects; in the 2025 financial year it funded more than 800 projects with €30.6 million. Its Essen office employs around 83 staff from 14 nations and various faith backgrounds. Adveniat is led by a bishop appointed by the German Bishops' Conference; as of the 2025 annual report, Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck serves as Adveniat-Bischof. The organisation publishes annual reports and audit statements to document its accountability and transparency.

The Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniat was established in 1961 when the German Bishops' Conference decided to hold a special Christmas collection 'for the pastoral needs in Latin America'. The willingness to donate and the many requests for help from Latin America led the German Bishops' Conference to call for further Christmas collections in the following years. In 1969, the German bishops decided to make the collection for Latin America and the Caribbean an annually recurring action of the Catholic Church in the Federal Republic of Germany, under the name Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniat. Since then, Adveniat has grown into one of Europe's largest aid actions for Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting more than 1,000 projects annually. Its legal and asset-holding body is the Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniat e. V. in Essen. The organisation's work is based on the principles of the 'option for the poor' and 'help towards self-help', and it sees itself as a bridge between the people of Latin America and the people of Germany. Over the decades, Adveniat has expanded its project work across the entire Latin American continent, reaching remote areas where the state often does not fulfil its responsibilities. Its focus areas include holistic development, parish and church life, social and health services, peace, human rights and the environment, and emergency relief. In the 2023/2024 financial year, it approved €33.8 million for over 1,000 projects. In the 2025 financial year, it funded more than 800 projects with €30.6 million. The organisation publishes annual reports and audit statements to document its accountability and transparency.

• 2025

  Adveniat funds more than 800 projects with €30.6 million in the 2025 financial year.

• 2024

  Adveniat supports more than 1,000 projects with €33.8 million in the 2023/2024 financial year.

• 1969

  The German bishops decide to make the collection for Latin America and the Caribbean an annually recurring action of the Catholic Church in the Federal Republic of Germany.

• 1961

  The German Bishops' Conference decides to hold a special Christmas collection for the pastoral needs in Latin America, founding the Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniat.

The Latin America aid organisation of the Catholic Church in Germany, acting as a bridge between Latin America and Germany and promoting help towards self-help.

• Project funding in Latin America and the Caribbean

  Adveniat supports over 1,000 projects annually in Central and South America and the Caribbean, focusing on crisis regions and marginalised groups.

• Annual Advent campaign

  A nationwide campaign during Advent and Christmas that brings the realities of Latin America and the Caribbean to German parishes and civil society.

• Emergency relief

  Adveniat provides emergency relief after environmental disasters such as floods, droughts, earthquakes and storms.

1. 1Adveniat - Das Hilfswerk für die Menschen in Lateinamerikaadveniat.de
2. 2Über unsadveniat.de
3. 3Rechenschaftadveniat.de
4. 4Wer wir sind und was wir machenadveniat.de
5. 5Episcopal Action Adveniatwikidata.org
6. 6Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniatde.wikipedia.org