On 15 February all the members of Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) living in Turkana together with more than 500 faithful gathered at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle at Nariokotome Mission to commemorate the 12th death anniversary of our founder, Fr. Francisco Andreo or simply Paco as he preferred to be called.

At the same Thanksgiving Mass, the ashes of the late friend of Fr. Paco and the Community, Mr. Roy Gontier, were also blessed and inurned at the columbarium. Roy was a most able pilot who passed away on 27 June 2013. Roy did many flights for the missions and often flew Paco to Nairobi for his medical checkups. These memories and stories were shared with the congregation gathered at mass.

The event began at the church graveyard where various trees were planted. Fr. Alex Campon, assisted by Deacon Stephen Iyerio, presided at the Eucharistic celebration in the company of Fr. Joseph Ebenyo, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Lodwar, and all the MCSPA priests living in Turkana.

In his homily, Fr. Alex drew similarities between Paco and Pope Francis in their acts of compassion toward the needy and hungry, and the care for the environment. Cecilia Puig, in her tribute message, encouraged all to use every drop of water to plant trees in their homes, schools and everywhere. Mr. Derek Seton, a close friend of Roy read a brief euology and tributes from Roy’s family.

This was followed by songs, a dance and poems by students and pupils of Nariokotome Girls and St Joseph’s Primary School.

Finally, there was the blessing of the trees and all the children present were fed.

As Cecilia remarked, “Let us keep Paco in our memory until we change our dear Turkana into a garden.”

By Brian Odhiambo Nyamuok,

Nariokotome Mission

Today, we are happy to celebrate the appointment of a dear friend of the MCSPA, Abuna Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, the Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries, as the Auxiliary Bishop of Addis Ababa.

Representatives of the Catholic Church from across all regions of Ethiopia, Africa, Asia, Europe, and America were present, including many missionaries, making this a most moving and universal celebration: the Church united in joy and strengthened by the bonds of collaboration and faith.

We pray for Abuna Tesfaye’s new appointment of shepherding the Ethiopian Catholic Church hand-in-hand with Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel in these challenging times.

May God bless you, Bishop Tesfaye and do count on our prayers!

By Amanda Falgas and Maria Vidal
MCSPA Junior Apprentice
ETHIOPIA

On December 27, we traveled along the road to Mount Naita, which took 3 years to construct, crossing the mountains to reach a village called Lotimor in South Sudan. We went there to celebrate Christmas with the people and to baptize many catechumens who had been patiently waiting for years for a priest to visit them. Priests of the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, founded the mission at Lotimor but had to leave shortly after.

When we arrived, we settled and camped at the former mission compound. The day after our arrival, we baptized 45 children and youth who joyfully welcomed us into their “church” which was the shade of some huge trees.

We attempted to reach remote communities such as Lorengalup towards the plateau, but when it proved too difficult, we decided to stay an extra night so that they could come to a nearer village to meet us.

Children, women and even elderly people walked barefeet for hours over scorching stones to reach the chapel. They arrived singing and dancing, and when asked if they were happy, they answered, “Very happy!!!” At the celebration that day, we baptized more than 200 catechumens!

We were surprised and deeply moved to witness such strong faith – a faith that crosses mountains, and spans over many years without the Eucharist. We thank God for the gift of bringing His grace to them once more this Christmas.

Amanda Falgas, MCSPA Apprentice
Ethiopia

From 22 to 24 November, Nyangatom Mission was honoured to welcome the Catholic Women’s Association as well as some members of the Catholic Men’s Association from Queen of Peace Mission at Todonyang.

The main purpose of their visit was to share with the people at Nyangatom different experiences both in faith and culture.

It was an interaction that sparked a lot of emotional reactions as this was the first time that such an event of this sort has been hosted by the mission. Indeed, recalling all the terrible conflict that has been going on between the Turkana and the Nyangatom, no one expected such an encounter to take place. The Turkana and Nyangatom peoples are two tribes that are similar in terms of language and cultural practices. However, they are separated by the international boundary between Kenya and Ethiopia. The Turkana belong to Kenya while the Nyangatom are in the latter. Conflict between the two communities have persisted over generations due to a lack of resources. Cattle raiding was the daily bread of life and the loss of life was considered the expected norm.

However, due to great efforts from many parties, the Catholic Church included, throughout the past 3 years, there has been peace between the two tribes and this has facilitated some interaction and sharing between the two tribes.

The visit of the people from Todonyang is a sign of the peace being currently enjoyed by the two tribes. We hope this will be the first of many visits and interactions that will seal a more permanent peace. We pray also that the peace that has been restored will yield much fruit and that we may not see anymore bloodshed between the two peoples.

It was a moving occasion to see the interaction between peoples who were previously enemies and who have now known peace.

May Christ, the Prince of Peace, and Mary, the Queen of Peace, forever guide and teach us the way to work for peace.

Daniel Jepter,
Senior Apprentice, MCSPA
Nyangatom Mission (Ethiopia)

In late April, tension swelled up in the hitherto peaceful atmosphere of Western Equatoria State, more especially at Tombura County. Until then, we had enjoyed months of peace. And now people lived in fear.

During the previous conflict in 2021, thousands of people fled their homes and took refuge in different places that they deemed “safe”. Then, Ave Maria Mission hosted thousands of refugees of that war. Now another tribal war was looming in the horizon and it was building up so fast.

Now that the flames of war have been lit again, the only safe place that appeared in the minds of all affected is Ave Maria Mission at Ngboko.
Hundreds of internally displaced people (IDPs) began to arrive from the neighbouring villages of Dingimo, Akpa and Nabanga, all out-stations of the parish. The refugees came on their bicycles fully laden with their few personal belongings. They brought along all that they could manage to salvage from their homes. The more unfortunate one fled only with the clothing on their backs.

The priests at the mission, Frs. Avelino and Albert welcomed the IDPs and hosted them at the Magnificat Pilgrims’ Center, in the parish hall and in any other available space within the compound. There were 603 displaced persons: men, women, children and the elderly. Everyone got a place to rest and ease their troubles after walking for 3 days and 3 nights.

With clean water that is available at the mission as well as other amenities, and with a functional kindergarten, primary and secondary schools and a vocational training center, the displaced persons who sought refuge at Ave Maria have been able to survive.

Feeding all the refugees has not been an easy task but with the little we had in our stores, the IDPs have been able to at least have something to eat. For most of them, returning to their homes is a mere illusion for now.

Since the vast majority of them are totally dependent on farming as their source of livelihood, the mission has also seen to it that the IDPs have portions of land nearby where they may carry out some agricultural activities.

Many of the IDPs are hoping to be around for the long term as they feel safer and at home here. Ave Maria Mission is committed to promoting peace and discouraging tribal conflicts by any means at our disposal.

Providing a safe haven to people in dire need is one of the ways of assisting the refugees, and we have tried to do this by bearing in mind Paul’s exhortation in his letter to the Romans (see Rom 15:7): “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Benjamin Maketa
Junior Apprentice, MCSPA
Ave Maria Mission

A 5-day eye campaign, organized by Ave Maria Mission in collaboration with volunteer ophthalmologists and healthcare workers from Spain, has just concluded, leaving a lasting impact on hundreds of lives in the community.

The campaign, which took place from April 08 till 12, provided free eye examinations, medications, as well as surgeries for individuals who lacked access to proper healthcare. Many residents in Tombura and Ezo County areas struggle with untreated cataracts, glaucoma and other eye problems that adversely affect their daily lives.

One of the beneficiaries expressed her gratitude, saying, “For years I’ve been struggling to see clearly, making it so difficult for me to work in the fields. Thanks to Ave Maria Mission and the Spanish eye-doctors, I can now see the rows of seedlings I plant and the crops I harvest. It’s a life-changing difference.”

Over the 5 days, the Ave Maria Mission Eye Campaign served 421 patients with 92 successful surgeries, treated 91 cataract cases and 1 case of pterygium or “surfer’s eye” … thus, sight for many were restored and the overall well-being of the community improved. The success of the initiative highlights the critical role such outreach programs play in bridging healthcare gaps and empowering individuals.

Ave Maria Mission is committed to continuing its efforts to provide essential medical services to the needy. The Spanish ophthalmologists are already planning future eye care campaigns even as they prepare to go to Nzara (another nearby county) to carry out the same program as at Ave Maria Mission for another 2 days. Thus we work towards a future where everyone has access to quality vision-care.

Peter Sokakulo,
Ave Maria Mission,
[South Sudan]

The inauguration of a building housing the new Operating Room took place near the Dispensary of Nariokotome Mission on February 23.

The building was blessed by Frs. Antonio Aguirre and Zacchaeus Okoth and officially opened by Dr. José Luis Gil and his wife Angelina Ruiz de Temiño, and Dr. Paco Galván and his wife Lola, who have been part of this project since its inception and represented all those involved in it but who could not attend the ceremony.

This project consists of an isolated building which boasts two fully-equipped operating rooms for minor outpatient surgeries. In addition, the building also has a patient recovery room for both surgical patients and for pregnant and postpartum women. Likewise, multi-purpose rooms were built for consultations and nutrition-related programs coordinated by Scholastica Wamalwa and the Health Team of Nariokotome Dispensary.

With this news, we would like to thank the efforts of all those who contributed to the development of this project, especially the missionaries at Nariokotome Mission.

We also want to thank the people who in one way or another have been part of this project, such as Jorge, Victoria, Luis Carlos, María Jesús, Begoña, Alfredo, and many other doctors, architects, engineers, and different benefactors who have made this reality possible.

It was through the Founder of the MCSPA, Fr. Francisco “Paco” Andreo who spread his enthusiasm for Turkana in 2006 to his doctor-friend, Dr. Ana Mañas, and together with her husband, Dr. Emilio Cuevas, also a traumatologist, that we created a bond of friendship and collaboration. We thank the dedication of Emilio and Ana, who continue to come to Nariokotome every year, bringing with them relatives, friends and various collaborators.

We end this news report with a saying much quoted by Paco: “Actions speak louder than words”. Today, this has been fulfilled!

By Scholastica Wamalwa, Doctor Ana Mañas and a team of friends and doctors from Spain

On 22 February 2024, we inaugurated the Derma Nariokotome Project which aims to support the local population of Nariokotome by manufacturing soaps and creams that help improve health and control skin diseases.

This initiative is sponsored by Cantabria Labs. The premises of Derma Nariokotome was blessed by Frs. Antonio Aguirre and Zacchaeus Okoth. For the inauguration Patrizia Aniballi, Scholastica Wamalwa, Lenny Jilo, Lydia Imbala and Lucia Blasi were present. We also had a small representation from Cantabria Labs: Antonio Matji, Marta Domínguez, Tere Sanz, Toñi García, and Pepa Sardinero.

Derma Nariokotome has as its patrons Sts. Cosmas and Damian, two physician-pharmacist saints who devoted their lives to helping the sick by providing them with “miraculous remedies”. In return, these saints only asked to speak of Jesus, becoming physicians of both body and soul.

Lenny Jilo will be in charge of the project with Samuel Kapua as director. Samuel is trained to formulate and manufacture everything needed; he was educated at the mission since he was a child, thanks to a sponsorship by Cantabria Labs, which also continues to support us in development and education projects in the Nariokotome area.

By Patrizia Aniballi, Lenny Jilo and representatives from Cantabria Labs.
Nariokotome Mission

“Show love in your apostolates by your presence” is a moving statement from Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of the Catholic Diocese of Cubao during his visit on February 19 to St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier House of Theology in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. In the company of Fr. Edwin Peter Dionisio, OFM, the Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Cubao, and Sr. Veronica Gungon, SJBP, the Bishop’s Secretary, Bishop Honesto’s pastoral visit is a big blessing to the MCSPA community here and a gesture of good working relations.

Bishop Honesto and team were shown around the house by Frs. Francis Teo and Alex Campon, accompanied by all the other members and apprentices. Introductions were made and the bishop was especially keen to know the origins of everyone and what each was studying. We then sat down for some Ethiopian coffee and Malaysian cake!

The bishop’s awareness of the MCSPA is remarkable for he intimated to having read widely about the community on its website, in addition to the constant contact that Fr. Francis has kept with the Diocese of Cubao. The bishop’s message to us all was to keep serving the people of God with zeal and commitment and in whatever small ways possible. Reaching out to the elderly and conducting English and Mathematics tutorial classes to children from the depressed areas (slums) are two activities that he singled out as particularly important. Thus, Bishop Honesto reminded us to show love in our apostolates by our presence with the children and families.

By Cosmus Onyango,

MCSPA Apprentice

Manila

The episcopal ordination of Abuna Lucas Teshome was held on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at the Eparchy of Emdeber, Ethiopia. At this elaborate celebration, steeped in the culture of the Eastern Rite, Abuna Lucas was consecrated as the new Coadjutor Bishop.

The celebration was an occasion to celebrate unity, marked as it was by the presence of the Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Antoine Camilleri, a great number of bishops from all over Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as government representatives and heads of different churches, all giving their blessing on the newly-consecrated bishop.

Abuna Lucas Teshome, who is himself from Emdeber, was warmly welcomed into his new appointment to his native land. All roads were closed and the whole town was decorated for the occasion. 

Catholics make up only 0.5% of the whole population of Ethiopia, but Emdeber has one of the largest Catholic communities in the country.

The MCSPA opened a mission at Emdeber in 2023 with two members living and working at St. Scholastica MIssion at Dakuna. It is the most recently-established mission of the MCSPA.

We look forward to working with Abuna Lucas in bringing the Kingdom of God into this corner of Ethiopia, and we pray for him in his new appointment as shepherd of the local church.

by Amanda Falgas, Apprentice of the MCSPA