Nariokotome Parish marked Mission Sunday by celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Catechist George Lokiru. Catechist George Lokiru is a Commissioned Catechist married to Alice Lokiru. He has served in several outstations within Nariokotome Parish. Prior to Nariokotome Parish he served in Loarengak and Lokitaung Parishes. He is renowned for his singing skills and for being a cheerful preacher.

His silver Jubilee was commemorated with people coming from all over Nariokotome Parish and beyond. There were a big number of his fellow catechists from within Nariokotome Parish and other neighbouring Parishes.

The celebration began with Mass where the letter of the Pope on Mission Sunday was elaborated with the theme: ” Here am I, Send me”. The preacher of the day challenged the Christians to support the catechists and invited young people to want to serve the Church as Catechists.

After the Mass there was entertainment by the different Church groups. Afterwards there were speeches whereby George was praised for his dedicated service. Gifts followed. He was showered with an array of gifts. Several Christians also pledged various construction materials to help the Catechist construct a better house.

The guests were served with lunch after the ceremony of the cutting of the silver jubilee cake.

We thank the Lord for the 25 years of service of George Lokiru. We pray that the Church may be blessed with many committed Catechists to carry on the Mission of Christ.

Fr. Denis Odongo MCSPA, parish priest

A few months ago, a group of internally displaced people came to Mizan Town. These people had moved from the nearby rural areas bordering Mizan town. The number of people where about 130, including women with children. They all belonged to the Menit community, one of the minority groups in Ethiopia.

Members of the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostles in Mizan were informed of the problem and we did not hesitate to help. Instead, we moved to see where they were and what had brought them there. We were touched to see many children crying for food spending nights in the cold, young girls with babies that they couldn’t afford to give them the basic needs, young girls forced into marriage unconsciously and families with attacks of epilepsy without medical support!.

These people were forced to leave their homes in search of medical support, food and shelter among other social problems that were not able to cope with. Unfortunately, all of them are epileptic and with traditions in this community once one is discovered that he or she is epileptic, is forced to leave the family and they are not accepted back. Hence, they move to other places continuously looking for help!

The local administration of Mizan-Aman town took them and put them in one of the primary schools since the schools were closed due to Covid 19 pandemic in order to reduce the increase of the pandemic of letting people to move in and out of the town. This was one way to ease the tension and fear of many social problems that are arising and pushing this people to move from one place to another. Though they had a place to sleep their situation was still precarious and needed urgent intervention for their well-being and their dignity.

The joys, hopes and anguish of the people of the time today especially the afflicted ones are the joy, hopes and anguish of the followers of Christ. Seeing the great need of these Menit displaced people, we moved in so as to work together and this made us to ask for help so that we could be able to support them with the basic necessities.

Thanks to so many people from everywhere opened their arms to help, people with desires to make the world a better place by contributing to better the life of others, we were able to support them with blankets that they could cover themselves from cold, mats, clothes, utensils and food.

Also, we counted with doctors from Mizan Aman hospital, whom we invited to visit the Menit. They have given their time and care. It has been an immense gift to experience the collaboration that we have received when trying to assist these people.

After eight months living in the Primary school, and with the start of the reopening of the schools. The local government of Mizan-Aman town, red cross and the administration of West Omo zone have organized that this people to be taken back to their homes. They have constructed houses for them there and we have given them food to start a new living, hoping that things will be better.

We would like this to be a learning experience for many, to learn to help, to learn to serve one another and to love doing something for the people who experience problems in the world today.

Esther Kerubo MCSPA Apprentice

A few months ago, a group of internally displaced people came to Mizan Town. These people had moved from the nearby rural areas bordering Mizan town. The number of people where about 130, including women with children. They all belonged to the Menit community, one of the minority groups in Ethiopia.

Members of the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostles in Mizan were informed of the problem and we did not hesitate to help. Instead, we moved to see where they were and what had brought them there. We were touched to see many children crying for food spending nights in the cold, young girls with babies that they couldn’t afford to give them the basic needs, young girls forced into marriage unconsciously and families with attacks of epilepsy without medical support!.

These people were forced to leave their homes in search of medical support, food and shelter among other social problems that were not able to cope with. Unfortunately, all of them are epileptic and with traditions in this community once one is discovered that he or she is epileptic, is forced to leave the family and they are not accepted back. Hence, they move to other places continuously looking for help!

The local administration of Mizan-Aman town took them and put them in one of the primary schools since the schools were closed due to Covid 19 pandemic in order to reduce the increase of the pandemic of letting people to move in and out of the town. This was one way to ease the tension and fear of many social problems that are arising and pushing this people to move from one place to another. Though they had a place to sleep their situation was still precarious and needed urgent intervention for their well-being and their dignity.

The joys, hopes and anguish of the people of the time today especially the afflicted ones are the joy, hopes and anguish of the followers of Christ. Seeing the great need of these Menit displaced people, we moved in so as to work together and this made us to ask for help so that we could be able to support them with the basic necessities.

Thanks to so many people from everywhere opened their arms to help, people with desires to make the world a better place by contributing to better the life of others, we were able to support them with blankets that they could cover themselves from cold, mats, clothes, utensils and food.

Also, we counted with doctors from Mizan Aman hospital, whom we invited to visit the Menit. They have given their time and care. It has been an immense gift to experience the collaboration that we have received when trying to assist these people.

After eight months living in the Primary school, and with the start of the reopening of the schools. The local government of Mizan-Aman town, red cross and the administration of West Omo zone have organized that this people to be taken back to their homes. They have constructed houses for them there and we have given them food to start a new living, hoping that things will be better.

We would like this to be a learning experience for many, to learn to help, to learn to serve one another and to love doing something for the people who experience problems in the world today.

Esther Kerubo MCSPA Apprentice