Yesterday, we had a whole day from 9 am with activities, singing, races, dancing, plays, football, riddles, you name it. All participated: the elderly, the children and the young adults. The activities were still going on at night and we finished at 3 am!

It was great to see all our Christians and the refugees come together to celebrate the Risen Christ.

We also were fund raising for our centenary that will be in October this year.

You are all welcome to Ave Maria Parish and celebrate with us the 100 years since the parish was formed. We will be having such activities and more again!

Lillian Omari MCSPA

Religious superior association of South Sudan organised one week workshop for all the religious living and working in South Sudan and have been less than 2 years in the country. Our community and Tombura Yambio Diocese was also represented by Lillian Omari.

We were also briefed on the Pope’s visit from the 5th to the 7th of July by Monsignor John Paul, the Pope’s representative in South Sudan.

We had also the privilege to have the closing mass from the Archbishop of Juba, Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla.
We thank the Religious Superiors Association of South Sudan for organising this interesting meeting.

Lillian Omari MCSPA

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (Mt 6:22)

At our mission of Ave Maria in Tombura-Yambio, South Sudan, a surgical campaign is underway since Saturday!

Dr. Blanca Garcia Sandoval and a team of South Sudanese and Central African nurses and health workers, have thus far seen more than 120 patients with different eye problems. Those that are very complicated will be referred to Juba because of the lack of certain equipment at our facility at Ave Maria Mission.

The majority of the patients are blind due to cataracts. Men and women of between 25 and 35 years of age go blind because of cataracts, which is something that can be operated on when detected on time.

We thank the team for bring back sight to the blind. This morning we were happy to see some of those who were operated on smiling and jumping because they are now able to see again.

Lillian Omari, MCSPA

During the feast of all Souls, at Ave Maria and St. Thomas Parishes all the Christians come together to join our brothers and sisters who lost someone during this on-going war in our area.

There are many people who could not bury their families, some because they had to run away from the fighting, others were killed trying to protect their families. Many people we left on the same spot they died. For this, we asked all those who could not bury their families, to write down the names and come with a symbolic leave wrap to bury their families. It was so emotional, as some families had 8 to 10 names of their loved ones.

We at Ave Maria continue praying for Peace. Join us as we enter our 4th month of Rosary for peace in South Sudan especially in Tombura County.

Lillian Omari MCSPA

This week, we blessed the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that was placed at the entrance of Source Yubu to protect the area, especially during these difficult times. The Sacred Heart of Jesus movement, the children of the private and the government schools in the area attended the celebration.

Unlike Tombura, in Source Yubu there has been no conflict so far. However, there are more than 3000 internally displaced persons and tight security by the local militias. All roads to Tombura are blocked to prevent any possible attack.

We ask the Sacred Heart of Jesus to bring peace to this land and its people.

Lillian Omari MCSPA

When we rebuilt the mission of Our Lady Queen of Peace Todonyang 14 years ago, after many many years of being a “no-go-zone”, our main aim was to bring peace in the area. However, peace has been built and also destroyed on several occasions.

As MCSPA members living and working in Todonyang we will not stop striving to bring peace. Apart from the school, which is one of the main projects we run in the mission, we have been for many years building and distributing boats.

This year we are planning to build 18 more boats and distribute them to several families that will have from then on an income. With these boats, families will be able to take their children to Todonyang integrated school, and these same children will be one day the peace promotors in the area. These are not mere boats but boats that build peace and bring life.

Lillian Omari MCSPA

Despite the heavy rains that we received yesterday in Turkana and more so in Todonyang Mission, huge numbers turned out to witness the baptism of 36 young adults at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Todonyang. The best gift mothers received.

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”. 1 Corinthians

Lillian Omari MCSPA

We miss you Raphael Ngare and Boniface Chinnappan, two wonderful missionaries who worked at Todonyang and Nariokotome Missions respectively.

With these words from Scripture below, we remember your lives and your work. You left your homes in Eldoret and India, respectively, to come serve the Lord in Turkana.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Jn 14:27

We have two angels ? in heaven!

We also remember their families who freely gave their sons to come and serve the Lord.

Lillian Omari – MCSPA

And it is one of the most needed commodities in our day to day living. Now in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, water should be available at the entrance of every building, be it an office, house or public space.

We need water to wash our hands before doing anything. 
In some places in Kenya many communities are forced to walk for kilometres in search of water for their daily basic needs.

 
The MCSPA has made, and continues to make this precious element available to some of the most impoverished communities.

 
Today – World Water Day – we would like to thank all those who have supported our efforts at developing water resources for the people we work with in Africa.

Lillian Omari MCSPA

Today the MCSPA missions in Kenya and South Sudan, we were lucky to have houses blessed by the Three Kings. They visited us on the day of Epiphany, when the three wise men visited the child Jesus. It is an honour indeed to have such blessings!

We pray for so many children around the world, who through the hard work of singing carols from house to house on the 6th of January, collect money to help many children to have a proper health care, food and education.

Let’s encourage our children to continue supporting other children all over the world who are less priviledge, especially during this time of the pandemic.

CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN should be our motto in all our educational institutions.

Lillian Omari – MCSPA