Fr. Jorge Carlos Naranjo, Comboni missionary: “To educate the brain and heart”

Axel Sikora is professionally involved in networked communication electronics at Offenburg University. In his private life, the Heitersheim resident is involved in the editorial department of the local Catholic pastoral unit's church newsletter. And now things are getting quite international.

By chance, he met the Spaniard Jorge Carlos Naranjo Alcaide in a church in Cairo, who has spent the last twelve years building up and directing the Comboni Institute for Science and Technology in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

The Comboni Congregation is a missionary religious order. The outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023 surprised the priest while he was on vacation in Spain and delayed his return trip to his country of deployment. So he came to Cairo via Dubai and to a joint project with Offenburg University.

The focus is on a tropical disease, the analysis of which has so far been neglected: Mycetoma. It is a soft tissue infection caused by fungal bacteria, which is triggered by small injuries, especially on the feet, when walking barefoot. The pathogens penetrate and, if left untreated, often lead to amputations. The German Academic Exchange Service promotes scientific cooperation on this research topic. Father Jorge Carlos Naranjo has now come to Germany to discuss the analysis of the disease data collected over the past 20 years with Professor Axel Sikora and, during his visit, to also report on the difficult conditions in wartime in Sudan. He had to give up the university building in Khartoum, which had just been expanded, and move to the safer city of Port Sudan.

A new building is now underway there. In the meantime, he has also adapted the college's structures and offers a bachelor's degree in nursing science, which includes a course in palliative care. The committed missionary is helped by extensive knowledge gained through degrees in theology, physics, Arabic studies, Islamic studies and a doctorate in quality management.

“It's about transforming society”, the priest emphasizes. “Not only the brain, but also the heart must be educated.” His goal: to advance science with technical means, but to keep people at the center. Because not all students have moved to Port Sudan, but some have fled in all directions, the lessons are held online, in the simulation laboratory and in partnership with hospitals.

The 98 percent Muslim population of Sudan is no problem for the Catholic. Religion is a compulsory subject, either Christian or Muslim. “Everyone can grow here. We have Friday as the day of prayer for Muslims and Sunday for Christians.”

The Spanish priest is quick to explain why he is sticking to the Comboni mission in Sudan despite all the adversities caused by the war: “Mission is like a marriage. You don't run away when there are problems. And I feel at home with the people there.”

The missionary experiences Germany as “clean, orderly and full of opportunities”. In Sikora he has a partner who is grateful for such cooperation. By analyzing disease data, he is moving into new research areas, the health dimensions of which have not previously been the focus of his research. 

The Heitersheim parish thus had the opportunity to hear a report from the priest in the church and to support his work with donations.

By Sabine Model – Badische Zeitung
Wednesday, September 25, 2024