Recently, in Ave Maria Parish, South Sudan we conducted a workshop for all the traders and business people of the area of our two parishes. Forty-two women and men attended. They participated very keenly in our SWOT analysis. Fr. Avelino Bassols explained to them the Gospel of Zaccheus, and how he had to climb the tree in order to come out from his petty little things and view his life from a wider perspective. Then he met Jesus and his life was turned inside out…

We usually run all kinds of workshops for catechists, teachers, health workers, water committees, apostolic movements, and youth… but we had never tried with the business community. So we decided to try and see what happens? Maybe they feel their profession has nothing to do with Christian life … Let us open the road for them to experience that they can live their faith whilst doing business.

The response was really overwhelming, people were so happy to share and talk!

Fr. Albert Salvans MCSPA

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

On Saturday 19th of March, are delegation of all the departments of the local government of Nyangatom Woreda travelled to Turkana north, accompanied by the team of the MCSPA working in Nyangatom and Mr. Abdi Adam from the Turkana County. The purpose was to visit the different mission of the MCSPA in along the border and the projects we are carrying out there.

The aim of the visit was to take advantage of the peace situation between Nyangatom and Turkana for the last one year, trying to foster father links of collaboration between the two communities, by visiting the different projects that the MCSPA is carrying out in Lobur, Todonyang, and Nariokotome missions. 

In Lobur the team visited the school and the Furrows in the desert project, and it was an amazing experience to see the trainees, women and men from different ages, including one from Nyangatom, fully equipped and ready to learn about the wonders of growing fruits in the dessert. On Sunday, the team was welcomed by the christian community during the lively mass at Lobur chapel.

In todonyang, the team visited the project at Nakinu, where the mission drilled several boreholes to provide water for the pastoralist communities at the foot of the Lapur mountains, helping shepherds and herds who before had to travel long journeys in search for water every other day, to places where they used to class with the Dassenech. Now, as the water is near the pastures, they can stay confortable by the mountain side. In addition, the boreholes provide sweet water to the mission through a pipe 10 km long.

The following day we visited the Todonyang integrated school, where Fr. Andrew Yakulula explained how the school was initiated as a Peace initiative. The main objective is that children from both conflicting communities, the Dassanech and the Turkana, learn and grow together in the same school, and establish bonds of friendship that change their negative cultural assumptions about each other’s communities into positive ones.

Fr. Andrew also explained that the botany project carried out by the mission is helping fishermen in their livelihoods and giving them an opportunity to send their children to school and give them proper education. 

It is amazing to realise how all three projects, water, education, livelihoods, intermingle to improve the lives of the people and give peace a chance in the Turkana-Dassanech corridor. It was a wonderful learning experience.

On Monday morning, the team headed for Nariokotome mission. There we visited the health centre, and Kaitoo kindergarten. In the afternoon, we visited the mission and ended with mass and dinner. Nariokotome offered a whole different experience to the crew, whereby they saw how the mission has shaped, along its thirty years of existence, an entire barren and arid region, improving the lives of so many vulnerable people through health, nutrition and provision of all basic resources such as water, livelihoods and education, necessary for human life. 

The trip ended with a visit to Lodwar, where the delegation was received by the Turkana county commissioner and the county secretary. On the way back we also had the chance to visit Loropio IT school and also discussed about possible cooperation in the near future through training of young people.

Throughout the whole exchange trip ideas about how development is possible in such remote areas through securing water and the basic human needs, gave the whole team encouragement and hope. It was a re-assuring journey of discovery and strengthening bonds of cooperation between the Nyangatom local government, the mission in Nyangatom, and the Turkana counterparts.

Let us enjoy the fruits of peace!

Fr. Angel Valdivia 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

On 12th February 2022, in Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, was the official opening and blessing of MCSPA chapel and house. The ceremony was led by the newly installed Archbishop of Lilongwe George Desmond. The function was also attended by Fr. Martin of St. Patrick’s Missionary Society; the parish priest of St. Kizito, Chigoneka, in whose territory the MCSPA house is located, Fr. Hodges Mzunga who is the bishop’s secretary. The celebration was also attended by family and friends of the members and Apprentices of MCSPA in Malawi.

This was the second time the new Archbishop pays a visit to the MCSPA. The fist was few months back when he presided over a ceremony to commission 24 catechists were graduating from a three-years training course at Benga Parish.

In his homily at the blessing of the chapel and house in Lilongwe, Archbishop Tambala emphasized on transforming our houses into homes where the virtues of love and reconciliation prevail. Furthermore, he exhorted all to be ready and willing to go out of their comfort zones and be present to the needs of others.

Speaking during the celebration, Fr. Manuel Hernandez, MCSPA, said, “It is significant that we should always have a decent house for God in wherever we are, both for prayers and personal meditation”. In addition, Fr. Fernando Aguirre, the president of MCSPA, thanked family and friends of MCSPA in Malawi for the constant support rendered to the community since its arrival to the country. He said that there is a lot of hope for Malawi and that the future is bright.

In his speech, Archbishop Tambala said, “my relationship with MCSPA did not start yesterday; I knew them back in my Nairobi days when I was a student.” He recommended the works of MCSPA and wished them good luck in Lilongwe Archdiocese as they continue to spread the gospel through their various activities.

This year, MCSPA will be cloaking 10 years since its establishment in Malawi.

By Innocent Letasi Phiri, MCSPA apprentice.

I have been lucky enough to spend ten days in Ethiopia working with Luz, Lourdes, and Blanca. Although the socio-political situation is not entirely hopeful. Ten days in which I have not worked on the usual, ten days of preparing the new government agreement, and the entire 2021 audit, because even though there is COVID-19, the years continue to pass. Ten days in which we continue to see that insatiable desire to try to give the best of each one. Ten days after nine years of “his hand” I continue to see people move forward. Bearing in mind that education is the most powerful thing we could offer to the generations that follow us; that human rights, in many places, are scarce; and that communities who fight for it remain unbreakable.

Zena and her mother continued without giving up. Life awaits them while they eagerly await life, but they do not sit down and wait. They wait while moving, going to and from hospitals. From the program for the malnourished to hugging Lourdes, to thanking Tigist, who are proud of what they have been achieving.

Abebe is calm, happy, doing puzzles (doing and undoing boxes too), walking, eating alone and well, enjoying his classmates, teachers, and mother. Soon, he will be taller than all of us and will no longer be able to sit on our laps as he enjoys doing while crossing his legs as Alemu does.

The other Alemu, the builder, has made a handrail for Zenabu to walk on. At the end of the exercise, he got a bench to rest and laugh, while the teachers applauded him for his great effort.

With a great effort just like all of them, Enat never left them behind. She is the head and the feet of the program for the malnourished; she knows the babies and their families. She weighs, measures, and advises them. She feels so much joy when she releases those who achieve ‘the green’ from the program. She encourages them to continue fighting to go from black to red, from red to yellow, and to reach that much-desired green. 

Many families are so grateful and happy to see us. We have spent all these days eating in the homes of workers, and friends from the center. Shiro, Kai wot, Alicha, Dinich, Kefto… nonstop. The families were so grateful to see us, be with us, and share with us. We are filled with so much gratitude (not so much our stomachs).

The wells continue to generate and improve life. It is necessary to check that they do not break, that they are maintained, and that the structures remain strong. There is Debelo´s area, and now Jesus who will be working with him hand-in-hand to give each other strength and energy.

The special need room, the classes, the kitchen, the dairy (with two pregnant cows), the great team of watchmen, the adolescents who are now scouts, and all the gear at Muketurri continues to turn well as a team, with respect and desire to continue to grow in this great community that all of us have formed.

Warm hugs!

Popy García-Ramos

Since November 2021 we invite the children who participate in the activities that we carry out in El Paraiso, Xochimilco to write a letter to send to the Three Wise Men, asking for what they would be very excited to receive.

When we received the letters we saw that most of them asked for clothes, shoes and some simple toy….. we were surprised that they were not just toys… But what caught our attention were letters where they put: Whatever they want to bring me, whatever… .

When we asked these children why they didn’t ask for something they would like to have, they replied: “I don’t want to get my hopes up, I don’t even know if they are going to read my letter… whatever arrives is good if something arrives at all.”

There was a part where we asked what was the greatest wish for 2022 and almost everyone put that their greatest wish was, speaking of members of their family, the health of chronic patients, the rehabilitation of addicts, the improvement in family relationships, reduce the violence in their homes

When looking for sponsors for the 180 letter we had received, we explained that the most important thing in this activity was not the toy or the clothes themselves, but the commitment to restore hope to these children who, because of the place where they were born, make it difficult for them to believe in goodness. of people.

Finally the day came….. and it was wonderful!!! The faces of enthusiasm and hope could be seen in everyone: the children, their parents, the volunteers who helped us distribute them and of course the joy of all those who in one way or another supported us to make this possible.

I believe that the Three Wise Men arrived in El Paraiso this year to leave us all gifts that feed our souls and strengthen our spirits.

Blanca Beltrán

MCSPA

October 2022 will mark 10 years since the start of the Furrows in the Desert (FID) program. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the MCSPA program management has convened a participatory evaluation to assess the performance of the project during these 10 years, as well as to discuss the direction the program should take in the years to come.

The evaluation took place from 24th to 28th January, during which a team of MCSPA and FID together with external evaluators from the Turkana County, Utawala, Baraka College and others, visited different places to meet with farmers.

We had a very successful mission where the farmers shared their challenges and successes through open discussions about all the different aspects relating to farming, water, irrigation, infrastructures, and marketing among others. So far there are 221 farmers have been trained and 16 additional assistants have been installed in the last 10 years.

The evaluation ended and was crowned with planting trees in the model farm of Furrows in the Desert in order to mark the 10 years for the FID existence in Turkana.

Thanks to all the team involved in the assessment, and especially the Lobur Mission team plus Arava Institute, our Israeli partners for all of these years of effort, that has helped many families begin to realize that fruits can grow in the desert, to produce and improve life.

Fr. Joseph Githinji MCSPA Lobur Mission

On 10th December 2021 took place the 16th graduation of “Furrows in the Desert” Programme of St. John the Evangelist-Lobur Catholic Mission, with the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) within the umbrella of Caritas Lodwar of the Diocese of Lodwar.

Once more, one more course has ended with an exciting graduation to celebrate the good work of the 13 new farmers. We counted with the presence of representatives of World Relief who have been partnering with the programme for many years and other members of the MCSPA of Kokuselei mission, who are supporters of Furrows in the Desert, were also present. The guest of Honor this year was Eva Laukamp, representing Kindermissionswerk from Germany, accompanying us after six years being one of our major benefactors to thex programme. We want to thank them all and also to the ones that were not able to come but are so important for the programme as TIPA, Rotary International, Foundation Emalaikat, New Ways UK and many others at the local level.

Also, taking advantage of the graduation, many of the members of SITFA (Saint Isidore Turkana Farmers Association) had theor yearly assembly and an ongoing formation workshop to improve and motivate the farmers to continue persevering and giving hope to Turkana showing that to produce food is possible and real.

Congratulations to all the team who makes this program possible and specially to the new farmers!!!!!

Maque Falgas

MCSPA