Workshop on Evangelization and Education in South Sudan

Participants
of workshop.

In the field of education we were given a comprehensive view about the general situation in South Sudan and the new curriculum launched in 2015; how the national ministry attempts to implement quality education and how he recognised that this is just what the Comboni missionaries did, with limited resources, in Fangak County (Jonglei). We remind everyone that South Sudan is one of the least educated countries in the world, and this situation will not change in the near future.

Also in the area of evangelization we had an overall view of the history of South Sudan. The speaker, John Ashworth, underlined the unique ecumenical relationships with the Protestant churches. South Sudan is the only country in the world where the Catholic Church is a member of the national council of churches; furthermore, it is one of its founding members. After this introduction, we tackled the following topics: the importance of catechists and the use of the vernacular in spreading the Gospel, the question to what extent the Church should challenge or embrace the local cultures and the question on how to transmit Christian values and attitudes in a meaningful way.

Two topics touched both areas of the workshop: Bro. Bill Firman reflected on the fact that both religion and science search for the truth; they are not antagonists but are like two partners performing a dance. Each one should inspire the other. Fr. Manny Ginete posed the question about how to educate and evangelize in order to be free.

One cross-cutting topic was the healing of trauma. Sr. Barbara Paleczny and Fr. Mario De Battisti presented the implications and opportunities in this healing, considering the fact that a large part of the South Sudanese population is traumatized, either by the previous wars and/or by the current civil war and daily violence, perpetuated in the local cultures. Neither evangelization nor education can reach people who are not able to process and internalise what is offered to them. Only trauma-healing can open the door that will help these people to communicate again and build trustful relationships. This alone is the beginning of a transformation process that will bring about real change in the life of individuals and society.

Retreat and first professions
From 10 to 16 April, 2016, the provincial retreat, preached by Fr. Salvatore Ferrao, SJ, was organized by the community of Rumbek. It was participated by 11 confreres and one Comboni sister. It was a beautiful opportunity to have a prolonged time of prayer, silence and encounter with the Lord in a good environment and in reflecting on the challenges that this new Country is presenting us these days, in the hope that the civil war of the last two years and half may end.

Fr. Salvatore Ferrao, a Jesuit and a very good friend of the Combonis, guided the confreres on the theme of the Year of Mercy but with a pastoral and missionary approach in mind and heart. The participants prayed strongly for peace and reconciliation in the Country and in the heart of people.

At the end of the retreat, during the last Mass of Saturday evening, two brothers, Bro. Patrick Lumami and Bro. Fafa Peter Ayih, made their first profession. It has been a blessing for them and for all of us in the province as it reminded us that of the great value of consecrating ourselves fully to God and to the people of South Sudan that the Lord has entrusted to us. The two Brothers will go to the Comboni Brothers Centre in Nairobi for their preparation to perpetual vows at the beginning of August. Later on they will proceed to their respective countries (Togo and Congo) for their final profession. After some holidays at home, they will come back to their respective service in the missions of Wau and Lomin.