Superior General’s official visit to South Sudan (2)

Fr. Enrique Sanchez, the Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries, and Br. Daniele, accompanied by the provincial, Fr. Daniele Moschetti, continue their visit to the Comboni communities in South Sudan. From Talì, they reached the community of Yirol, in the Lakes State among the Dinkas. The territory of the Parish of Yirol, dedicated to the Holy Cross, extends to the site of the Holy Cross mission where Daniel Comboni spent few months during his first missionary journey (1858). The visit to the neighbouring Christian communities has been a sort of Pilgrimage to the roots of the presence of the Comboni Missionaries in South Sudan. In March 2013, to celebrate the Year of Faith, various Christian communities from the Missions of Talì, Yirol and Old Fangak will convene to the very place of the ancient Holy Cross Mission in a Pilgrimage meant to revive the memory of the anniversary of the birth of St. Daniel Comboni (15^th March 1831) and to re-energize everybody’s commitment to the mission.

During the worst period of the war between North and South Sudan, in the early nineties, the town of Yirol was bombed by the Sudanese Air Force. As a consequence, several people left the town and took refuge in the forest. This is the place where the Mission of Mapuordit was born. The presence of the missionaries who had accompanied the fugitives favoured the organization of the settlement and in a few years a school, a hospital and a training centre were added on to the parish Church. Several priests and brothers have contributed to this endeavour. At the moment the Comboni Missionaries present in Mapuordit, together with other Institutes and volunteers, are Fr. Giuseppe Pellerino, Br. Rosario Iannetti and Br. Andés Gaspar Abarca. The Superior General, Br. Daniele and Fr. Moschetti have visited Mapuordit on New Year’s eve and have seen the birth of 2013 in a joyful and grateful atmosphere with all the communities of the missionaries and volunteers present there. On their arrival they received a very warm welcome by the Christians of one of the outstations of Mapuordit Parish.

Rumbek, the Diocesan headquarters, was their next stop. The Superior General wanted to visit Fr. Fernando Colombo, the Apostolic Administrator of Rumbek since the sudden death of the Diocese’s bishop, Mgr. Cesare Mazzolari. Here the New Years’ Mass was celebrated with particular solemnity. After the Mass and during the following day the Superior General and Br. Daniele had the possibility to encounter all the religious communities operating in Rumbek. It is evident that the evangelizing and apostolic effort has to continue in this land which counts a very small number of local clergy and religious. Particularly moving was the visit to the tomb of the late Bishop Cesare Mazzolari, who died on the 16^th July 2011, one week after the proclamation of the independence of South Sudan, the event he had longed to see.

After a stop at Barghel, where Fr. Giovanni Girardi is establishing a large vocational training complex, the visitors proceeded to Wau, where the imposing Cathedral and Diocesan complex bears witness to the deep-rooted and bountiful presence of the Comboni Missionaries. It is in fact in this historically important diocese that the evangelizing effort of the Missionaries spread to other parts of South Sudan and to Uganda. This city, the second largest of the County and capital city of the State of Western Bahr el Ghazal, hosts many church institutions: among them the St. Daniel Comboni Catholic Hospital and the Catholic Health Training Institute run by South Sudan Solidarity, the joint venture of a large group of Religious Institutes in collaboration with the Sudan Bishop’s Conference. The Comboni Community in Wau is composed by Fr. Martin Arnanz Isaac, Fr. Perina Luciano, Br. Redaelli Giuseppe, Br. Rizzetto Paolo and Fr. Tomasoni Lorenzo. The visit was also the occasion to pay a courtesy visit to Bishop Rudolph Deng Mayak, the Bishop of Wau, who warmly welcomed the Superior General and expressed his appreciation for the longstanding and fecund presence of the Comboni Missionaries.

Cathedral of Wau.

Parish Church of Yirol, dedicated to the Holy Cross.

 
Rumbek Mazzolar’s Tomb.