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Monthly Archives: August, 2016

Message from Bishop Dominic Kimengich

25 August 2016 Posted by News 0 thoughts on “Message from Bishop Dominic Kimengich”

Published in Ekeyokon Newsletter of Diocese of Lodwar, August 2016 Issue.

The recent incident that took place on Sunday July 31, 2016 at Todonyang Mission where an Ethiopian man was shot dead by a Turkana man immediately we concluded Holy Mass has left me with a heavy heart since then. I feel very much ashamed and wounded because this man together with other people from across the Ethiopian Border had been invited to come and join us since the Parish – named after Our Lady Queen of Peace – was celebrating 10 years of its establishment Moreover these people from Ethiopia were coming to visit their children who are studying in the Parish school called Our Lady of Peace Integrated Centre. One of the functions we were to do after Mass was the opening of a new block of classrooms.

This learning institution was started precisely as a connector project with the aim of bringing the children from the two conflicting Communities, the Turkana and Dassanech to learn to study and to live together. The school, started by the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle, has been a success story. There are already over 200 children from both communities living amicably and interacting together without any problem until this assassin, with one bullet, managed on Sunday to derail the Peace process that has taken ten years to build. Whether he acted alone, with others or was being used by sinister forces, this man has done a great harm not only to the two Communities but has left all of us wounded and unable to comprehend the dark hatred and the devilish force of revenge alive in the heart of such an individual. To dare to execute such an act in a holy ground, in broad daylight in front of everybody – above all little children – as people from all works of life were meeting to celebrate the gift of life and the peace that was taking root makes me to believe that we all came face to face with the devil.

I pray from the depth of my heart that blood of this old man who was so full of joy as he danced with the other Ethiopian people during the Holy Mass will be the seed of lasting peace in Todonyang and other parts of our region, nation and the entire world where there is conflict and the people of God cannot enjoy – the peace of the risen Christ.

My shame at witnessing this ugly and devilish incident was compounded by the fact that among those who were attending the celebrations was a Catholic Priest from Omorate in Ethiopia and the Orthodox Father of a Church very near the border. What started as wonderful celebration ended in disarray with the one gun shot that felled the man.

I wish to thank all those people who acted quickly to restore calm. My appreciation goes to Fr. Alex Campon, Fr. Andrew Yakulula, Fr. Albert Salvans, Scholastica, Patricia and other MCSPA members; the Kenyan and Ethiopian leaders and security forces who were there; and all the people of good will, whom God used to manage the situation. It required courage and strength and they provided that.

Similarly I note with appreciation those who accompanied us to Ethiopia as we escorted the people from Ethiopia to their villages and also the body of the dead man to the Orthodox Church there. This was when it dawned on me that had we not invited these people to our function they could not have lost the dear one. This realization left me in anguished and with no words to console them. I only prayed from the depths my heart that this could not be the beginning another circle of revenge and counter revenge that have been witnessed before in Todonyang.

My plea to the government and all the authorities is to go after the killer. To leave him at large will enhance the culture of impunity that is prevalent in the region. If the government was to react swiftly in apprehending the criminal then with Justice, peace will prevail. I call upon both governments of Ethiopia and Kenya to really work for lasting peace in the area.

Too many lives have been lost and another life lost, whether that of a Kenyan or an Ethiopian, will just fuel the impression there that we have very weak government, both at the county and national level, that is not interested in the security of its own citizens but very active in corruption, in stealing the resources that is supposed to be managing and is busy enhancing the culture of impunity.

For all those who still have a sense of decency and with consciences that are still alive let us not be discouraged or demoralized by what is happening. We should not rest until we find a lasting solution to the challenges we are facing. Sooner or later we shall conquer all the evils we are seeing for God is with us since our Lord Jesus Christ assured us: “I have said this to you, than in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

Sonrisas y Lágrimas

24 August 2016 Posted by General News 0 thoughts on “Sonrisas y Lágrimas”

Entre sonrisas y lágrimas los habitantes de Muketuri y Mizan Teferi despiden a una misioneras y dan la bienvenida a otras…

En Julio 2016 se celebró la despedida de Sarai Zavala, misionera mexicana de la MCSPA en Muketuri, Etiopía, desde 2007. Saraí fue en estos años la encargada del Centro Educativo Materno Infantil San José de Muketuri, donde 320 niños reciben educación y nutrición. Muchos niños se acostumbraron a gritar el nombre de “Saraí” cuando veían el coche de las misioneras entrar en el Centro. También muchas mujeres han asistido a los cursos de agricultura y nutrición del Centro en estos años…

Las maestras y ayudantes del Centro organizaron la famosa ceremonia del café etíope para la ocasión; tristes de la despedida, pero alegres de que Saraí se queda en Etiopía, en la misión de Mizan Teferi. Han sido 9 años de trabajar y establecer una amistad con trabajadores, padres, niños …

Los demás trabajadores del centro, agricultores, los que cuidan las vacas y gallinas, vigilantes, quisieron celebrar también la despedida y mataron una oveja para la comida; se sucedieron discursos emocionados de agradecimiento y cercanía a Saraí y le desearon buen viaje y suerte para su nueva misión. Entre bromas le dijeron que sólo la dejaban marchar porque sabían que iba a ayudar a otros etíopes en Mizan Teferi…

También en Julio en Mizan Teferi despedían a Rosa Murillo y Adriana Chametla, después de 7 años en esa misión. Rosa y Adriana se trasladan a la misión de Andode. Hubieron muchos lloros de despedida, pero al final los bailes consiguieron levantar el ánimo. Todos echarán de menos a Adriana con sus cursos de agricultura y sus patos y gallinas… Y a Rosa por sus juegos con los niños..

A pesar de que los que han colaborado más estrechamente en cada misión, maestras, agricultores, padres, echarán de menos a las personas con las que entablaron una amistad y un proyecto común, saben que otros miembros de la MCSPA continuarán la presencia y el trabajo conjunto a favor de estas poblaciones. Cada persona, con su personalidad da su impronta en la presencia de cada lugar, y, contribuye al trabajo de equipo con trabajadores, padres, voluntarios, etc, que hacen que se vaya extendiendo la esperanza en que las cosas pueden ser mejor.

En estos centros son muchos los niños que han recibido educación preescolar y nutrición y muchas las madres que han aprendido a plantar huertos en época seca… La idea de que los niños pueden alimentarse mejor y crecer más sanos y que se puede producir comida en la época seca y reducir la situación de inseguridad alimentaria va calando entre la gente del lugar.

Lourdes Larruy, MCSPA

7th course of Furrows in the Desert Kicks Off

14 August 2016 Posted by News 0 thoughts on “7th course of Furrows in the Desert Kicks Off”

English:
Yesterday morning 13th August, we had the opening ceremony to welcome all the new trainees of the 7th course of Furrows in the Desert. We have a group of 5 women and 3 men. This time round the participants are not so young as in previous courses. They have a great potential, and their maturity can play a good role in spreading their future knowledge in their communities.  This time the number has also reduced, but we still have a lot of hope; they really want to be in the course, they are convinced. We are still waiting for 2 candidates from Nyangatom, the neighbouring tribe from Ethiopia, and 3 more from Turkana.

We had a nice opening accompanied by the team of Furrows, all the staff and the visitors staying now in the mission.

We thank and appreciate all the efforts from everybody who is involved in Furrows in the Desert in one way or another: Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle, Brit Olam,  The Arava Institute of Desert Studies, here and Israel, as well as to all the benefactors who to make this dream possible.

Maque Falgás

Spanish:

Ayer por la mañana, día 13 de agosto, celebramos la apertura del séptimo curso para dar la bienvenida a los nuevos alumnos de Surcos en el Desierto. Tenemos un grupo de 5 mujeres y 3 hombres. La media de edad de los participantes de este curso es mayor que en cursos anteriores. Este grupo tiene un gran potencial, y su madurez puede ayudar a difundir los conocimientos que aprenderán durante el curso en sus pueblos y comunidades. Esta vez el grupo es pequeño pero tienen gran ilusión y realmente quieren estar en el curso. Aun estamos esperando a dos candidatos de Nyangatom, la tribu vecina de Etiopía, y 3 más de Turkana.

Ha sido una bonita ceremonia de apertura, acompañados por todo el equipo de Surcos en el Desierto, los trabajadores del proyecto y algunos de nuestros visitantes que se encuentran ahora en la misión.

Muchas gracias a todos por todo el esfuerzo que se está llevando acabo desde aquí: La Comunidad Misionera de San Pablo Apóstol, Brit Olam, El Instituto Arava de Estudios del Desierto, desde Israel y también a todos los benefactores que hacen posible este proyecto.

Maque Falgás

Todonyang’s last Sunday Killing in Kenyan Media

6 August 2016 Posted by News 0 thoughts on “Todonyang’s last Sunday Killing in Kenyan Media”

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Ethiopia-gives-Kenya-ultimatum-for-murder-at-border/1056-3333388-u9aicg/index.html

Prince of Peace Catholic Mission Nyangatom – Communication

3 August 2016 Posted by News 0 thoughts on “Prince of Peace Catholic Mission Nyangatom – Communication”

On Sunday 31st July some Christians from Kakuta, Nyangatom, Ethiopia, accompanied by their priest, Fr Angel Valdivia of the Missionary Community of St Paul (MCSPA) and catechist Charles Abong, went to Lebere village to celebrate a joint mass with Turkana Catholics from Kibish, Kenya. During the mass three Nyangatom warriors disrupted the prayers and took all the Turkana as hostages. According to the perpetrators 31 cows had been taken by Turkana raiders before and therefore they were now holding the hostages until their cows are returned. Among the hostages were Catholic Church catechists from Kibish and Lokomarinyang, an ECD teacher from Kibish, 3 school children, 3 girls and 5 women. The situation was delicate and even authorities and police from Ethiopia together with the elders were very careful in handling this very delicate situation. After a few hours’ of meetings, the only way forward found was that the men and children would be released but the women would be held back but under the care of Lebere village’s most important elder. For three days the mission personnel have been making efforts to take care of the women and coordinate with the authorities of both countries to have the hostages released in a peaceful way.

Yesterday the claimants of the stolen cows and perpetrators of the hostage-taking were driven to Kenya to identify their cows. They were later told to wait at the police station until the Turkana women would be released. It was a dead-lock. Animosity was high on both sides.

Finally yesterday evening police and administration from both countries met to discuss the terms of the release. The situation now is calmer and the father of the young men and perpetrators has finally agreed in writing to release the women and wait for their cows as he holds another 10 cows, recovered by the Ethiopian authorities, which had been stolen by Nyangatom raiders from the Turkana earlier on.

Despite the tension caused by both sides, the Kenyan and Ethiopian authorities demonstrated their deep commitment to maintain peace between these two communities.

Today 3rd of August at around 2 p.m. police and administration from both Kenya and Ethiopia managed to exchange the Turkana women hostages by the three Nyangatom who went yesterday to Kenya to identify their cows. An agreement was made also for the return of the cows from both sides as soon as possible. The women were taken to the Kenya police station to give their account of what had happened. They were welcomed by a cheerful crow among shouts of joy and tears of happiness. We then later on went to the church together to pray for them and bless them and give thanks to God for his intervention and protection. The Christians celebrated with prayers and songs and renewed their commitment to stand for peace in spite of the challenges and take the light of Gospel where there is still darkness. It has been a very challenging experience for the women and all those who were involved in these three days event, but the most important lesson for all of us has been that God is protecting us and taking care of us at all times, and if we have faith in him no evil will harm us.

Fr. Angel Valdivia
MCSPA

Our Lady Queen of Peace-Parish Communication:

1 August 2016 Posted by News 0 thoughts on “Our Lady Queen of Peace-Parish Communication:”

It is with great sorrow and pain in the heart that we inform you of a shocking incident at a well-attended Church function yesterday.  In the presence of several hundreds of people attending the event at Our Lady Queen Of Peace (Todonyang Mission), a Dassanech elder from this neighbouring community in Ethiopia was murdered in cold blood. There were children and adult faithful, the Bishop of Lodwar, Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich, and Ethiopian and Kenyan authorities present. Bishop Dominic was presiding over the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the parish, the confirmation of 50 Christians and the blessing of 4 new classrooms. The celebration of the mass had just ended and the fund-raising family day contributions was about to start. The killing of the elder occurred in front of the Pontifical Missionary Children of all the Deanery (over a 100 children) and the children from the Parish school (more than 150). Other persons present in the mission compound were the Orthodox priest and deacon from Koro (Ethiopia); Fr. Goesh Abraha, the Parish Priest of the Catholic Church in Omorate (Ethiopia) with some of his visitors; Fr. Imo Bassols, the parish priest of Lokori Parish, Turkana South, who had come with a delegation of Catholic Men’s Association of Lokori Parish; Fr. Albert Salvans from Lobur Mission and members of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle with visitors from their various missions of Nariokotome, Kokuselei and Todonyang; the Assumption Sisters from Lowarengak Parish, the local MCA and Turkana County authorities and elders of the area.

The motive for the murder is unknown, and it was carried out right before the Kenya Police, GSU and RDU units. Everybody present was shocked and the children of the school were very traumatised. The perpetrator escaped amidst a group of young turkana warriors who appeared to be backing him. The name of the deceased is Mzee Lobakate Lobolemai from Koro village in Ethiopia. Bishop Dominic, Fr. Alex Campón, the parish priest and Caritas Lodwar Director, Fr Goesh Abraha, Fr. Albert, and Scholastica Wamalwa and Patrizia Anniballi from Nariokotome Mission, together with the Ethiopian Orthodox priest and deacon and all the ethiopian delegation (the Deputy Chief Administrator from Omorate was among them) who came to the celebration escorted the body of the deceased back to Koro village where the rituals and prayers for burial where held, headed this time by the Orthodox priest.

Due to this despicable act, the school at Todonyang Mission has been closed and the children sent back home, and all development and pastoral activities of the Parish has been put on hold until security and confidence is restored. We await the security forces of Kenya to apprehend the culprit, dismantle this group of warriors, and return security to the area.

Let us pray from the bottom of our hearts for the end of violence and evil acts. May peace be restored.

Fr. Álex Campón, MCSPA.

 

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