The Flooding Crisis Continues

We wanted to share the following letter from Noeleen Loughran, missionary nurse and Sudan Relief Fund partner on the ground, who provided this update on the status of the flooding crisis in South Sudan.

“The people, especially in the Lakes State, are suffering deeply at this time. The flooding has displaced thousands of men, women, and children who are all fleeing their homes that collapsed due to the heavy rains.

The people themselves carried what little they had on top of their heads, and in some cases walked 30 to 40 miles to escape the flood waters. All of their homes have been submerged or destroyed, and all of their crops lost. Even the livestock have died.

As people walk through the deep waters to reach areas of safety, many have been killed on the way by poisonous snakes that hide in the floodwaters of these woodlands. The people come in by the thousands, exhausted by the long journey to dry land, only to arrive where they have no food or assistance. At this moment, thousands are sleeping under trees with absolutely no shelter from the monsoon-like rains.

Serious sickness and death is occurring mainly from malaria, as the people have no protection from the vast numbers of mosquitoes brought by the heavy rains and standing water. Many areas cannot be reached by road, but only by chopper. No help has reached the people yet, and fear looms for a great loss of life if aid does not come quickly.

Children lie on their mother’s knees in great sickness and pain. I myself feel so desperate for these people, as the rain beats down heavy on my bedroom roof. Medicine, food, mosquito nets, and plastic sheeting are badly needed to save the lives of the many thousands suffering this terrible plight. We continue to pray for those here, as we do everything we can to try to find assistance for them.

Please help those here in any way that you can. And keep them in your constant prayers, as we fight to save the lives of so many here in Rumbek, the Lake State, and all of the neighboring areas.”

-Noeleen Loughran

If you would like to send emergency relief supplies to thousands in jeopardy from the massive flooding in South Sudan, please go here. Your gift will help prevent deaths from starvation and malaria right now.

Catholic University Joins Annual Day of Catholic Schools To Celebrate Education for the Promotion of Peace

Students from around the diocese of Tombura Yambio gathered for the annual Day of Catholic Schools – a day when all schools within the diocese program from pre-primary through higher education, including Catholic University, come together to mark the special occasion.

The annual celebration focuses on the purpose of education and its ultimate aim to raise up people who serve God and community with courage and integrity. Said ad interim Vicar General of the diocese, Fr. Charles Tombe, “We are united by God for the mission of bringing peace to people,” adding that students are being educated to become competent individuals who work for unity and love for all humanity in the future.

Despite being in the midst of many humanitarian challenges, the celebration was still held with the objective of spreading hope and confidence throughout the shaken state of Western Equatoria. “Despite the challenges, it is important to focus on what we want to be,” said the vicar general. “We can fulfill ourselves only if we work for the peace that comes from God.”

In fitting with the message, this year’s theme of the Annual Day of Catholic Schools was “School Children – We Are for Peace.” The event kicked off with a collective gathering in Yambio’s Freedom Square in the morning, followed by a march through the city to the Parish of St. Mary Mother of God. Students from five schools of higher education, eight secondary schools, 28 primary schools, and 24 nursery schools all participated the annual event.

Seton Hall University and Catholic University of South Sudan Announce Partnership for Peace

The Catholic University of South Sudan is pleased to announce their entrance into a partnership with renowned Seton Hall University – a fellow member of the International Federation of Universities and one of the oldest Catholic universities in the United States.

Seton Hall is located in the state of New Jersey and is consistently ranked among the top colleges in the United States. The partnership between the two educational institutions was announced on November 3^rd.

“For a university rich of tradition and records of excellence to partner with a new emerging and promising university is no doubt motivated by the genuine spirit of fraternity and solidarity of Catholic Universities of the universal Church,” said Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, in a prepared statement. Bishop Kussala is the patron of the Catholic University of South Sudan St. John’s Yambio campus. A sister campus is located in Juba, the nation’s capital.

The association is expected to include collaborative research efforts, student and faculty exchanges, and conversations between the two institutions on issues such as peace and sustainability, as well as ignite new course offerings and student internship opportunities.

Said Katia Passerini, who is provost and executive vice president of Seton Hall, “We foresee expert discussions on peace, reconciliation and sustainability; internship opportunities for students; development of new specialized courses, conferences, publications that will help build a culture of dialogue, peace, and reconciliation in South Sudan.”

Peace has indeed been elusive for the youngest country of the world, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2021. On the heels of South Sudan’s newfound independence in 2011, civil war broke out as early as 2013 among warring leadership factions and continued for five years. In 2018, a fragile peace agreement was reached, which has proved to be fractured at best, with violent conflicts arising in the country even this past year.

The war-weary nation has suffered great loss of infrastructure and lives, and many civic and religious leaders continue to push for promoting a culture and consciousness of peace and brotherhood in their country. Educational institutions such as the Catholic University of South Sudan are a good place to start as gamechangers for their nation.

“The exchange of faculty, students and staff between Seton Hall University and the University of South Sudan might provide fresh answers to peaceful and sustainable solutions for the people of South Sudan,” said Father Colin Kay, Vice President of Mission and Ministry for Seton Hall.

Ines Murzaku, Director of Catholic Studies at Seton Hall, supported the concept. In an interview with the Catholic News Agency, Murzaku commented that “If politics fails, brotherhood and the peace of hearts will win, which reminds of Colossians 3:15 ‘let the peace of Christ control your hearts.’”

The International Federation of Catholic Universities, which gave rise to the partnership between Seton Hall and Catholic University of South Sudan, is an organization comprised of more than 200 Catholic universities around the globe.

The Children of St. Bakhita’s Orphanage Are Safe

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of Sister Bianca Bii and the children of St. Bakhita’s Orphanage.

As we shared with you, Sister Bianca and the children were evacuated in September from the orphanage grounds due to attacks by a violent militia group that swept through portions of Tombura Yambio. Sister Bianca stayed with the children until assistance could arrive to move them all to a safe place.

Since then, they have been living in an area shared with other families displaced by the attacks, in a temporary refugee camp environment. The local church, humanitarian organizations, our partners and you – our faithful supporters – have been working to provide for them under their recent circumstances.

Our partners on the ground report Sister Bianca and the children remain safe and well, and a recent shipment of both food supplies and non-food items for Sister Bianca and the orphans was sent to them by plane. You can listen to Sister Bianca’s message of thanks and see a video here:

Father Avelino shared that little by little people are adapting to their new environment and daily living conditions. Many have built their own shelters and decided to stay in the area, and a spirit of cooperation has prevailed between the different peoples coming together.

Now as they consider a longer term scenario, a community meeting was held where parcels of land were designated for the refugees. In cooperation, the local Sultan assigned areas where refugees could obtain grass to build their shelters. Local farmers have supplied the displaced with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Representatives from the refugees conveyed their appreciation to the mission and to the local people for welcoming them. Many of the people who have decided to stay have expressed interest in engaging in work projects to generate income, such as construction projects for the church or local schools.

We are grateful for the current wellbeing of the children of St. Bakhita’s, for Sister Bianca’s unending commitment to their care, and for your generosity and dedication to help the fatherless in all their circumstances. Please continue to lift them up in prayer, that peace, safety, and good health will prevail.

DONATE TO SUPPPORT BIANCA BII’s ORPHANAGE

Loreto Rumbek Schools Update
from Principal Sr. Orla Treacy

October was a month marked with cheer, good news, and positive developments for the Loreto Rumbek schools.

Rainy Season Ending

The rains are slowing down, and cessation of the rainy season typically brings a welcome drop in malaria outbreaks. Thankfully, the campus health clinic is equipped to treat students and staff, due to the generosity of donors whose support supplies needed medicines to battle the ubiquitous disease.

Distinguished Academic Achievement

The much anticipated results of academic exams and rankings arrived this month. Loreto Rumbek was thrilled to learn their 2021 graduating class took first place in the state, and third place in the national rankings for the government exams. This includes both the boys’ and girls’ schools. There was much celebration, with acknowledgement extended to the hard work of the students as well as the dedicated teachers to achieve this distinction.

International Day of the Girl Child

Loreto Rumbek campus hosted this year’s International Day of the Girl Child. Female students from schools all around Rumbek came together to support one another and explore what they can do to effect change in the future. Girls from Loreto Rumbek presented a powerful poem entitled, “Roll Call,” which speaks boldly to the challenges girls face in South Sudan.

New Counselor at the Clinic

The health clinic is very happy to welcome their newest staff member, Anne Loria, who will work as a counselor to help students who need guidance or support. She is also a registered nurse. The campus is grateful to have her onboard.

Teacher’s Day

The role of teachers as nation-builders through their contributions as mentors, guides, and knowledge givers, was honored during the annual Teacher’s Day celebration. It was a colorful and festive event, and further heightened by the good news which arrived that day of the school’s excellent state and national ranking achievements. Loreto Rumbek schools is especially grateful to their teachers who remained on campus to continue serving last year despite the pandemic challenges.

The Forgotten

Noeleen Loughran is nothing short of a hero. The missionary nurse served for years in the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda providing medical aid to South Sudanese refugees. She would seek out parts of the camp where there was absolutely no aid being delivered. She wanted to serve the forgotten. Remind them that they are not alone and were deserving as much as all God’s children. When the refugees started to return home, Noeleen saw a need to move with them to continue to provide aid as they began a new chapter, hoping to rebuild their lives in their native country.

Once she arrived, she discovered a group of displaced and severely ill people. These people were destitute and suffering the effects of a terrible disease – leprosy. This ailment left them ostracized from local communities and unable to fully care for their own needs. They had nothing. They were starving. Most of the children did not even have clothing on their backs. Noeleen realized at once that this is where she was needed. And thanks to her incredible compassion and the compassion of our supporters, a new life is beginning for the people of the leper colony of Malo.

The first tremendous effort Noeleen undertook was to negotiate with local tribes for the colony to keep their land, as neighboring villages threatened to claim it as their own. Now secure, progress is being made.  Food is being delivered, small homes are being constructed, a bore hole for clean water was drilled and the reframing of a building that will become a small health clinic is underway. These people are no longer forgotten. Fully 100% of these improvements for the people of Malo have been achieved through Sudan Relief Fund and our faithful supporters. You are providing hope. 

Pictured here is an 89-year-old grandmother whom Noeleen found lying on the ground outside. She was weak from starvation and could no longer stand. She is the matriarch to ten grandchildren she had been trying against all odds to provide for. When Noeleen first encountered her, she told Noeleen in desperation that she was lying there waiting to die, waiting for God to take her, because there was simply nothing left. No food for her or her grandchildren. She had lost all hope and they had accepted the impending reality of starvation.

But that was before. Through our incredible partner, Noeleen Loughran, and you, our steadfast supporters, the future is changing for these 700 people. Now this grandmother of ten looks forward to joyfully greeting Noeleen every week, as food, soap, and essential supplies are delivered to her and her family. She is also smiling in this photo because this week Noeleen brought her two mattresses and some bed sheets. She will no longer sleep on the dirt floor. Even more important is perhaps the medical care Noeleen can help provide. Last week one of her youngest granddaughters accidentally fell into the fire and was taken to receive medical treatment for her burn injuries (also pictured). Previously, healthcare of any kind was a nonexistent dream for those living here.

Hope has returned to the people of Malo. It is just the beginning. Leprosy is a treatable disease but with the lack of any care available for years, many people have suffered long term effects of the illness. With your help, we can continue to make a difference in this community by supporting the health clinic, farming initiatives and clean water projects. Now they can look forward to the future. And Nurse Noeleen says she’s the luckiest person in the world to be a part of it. 

Your partnership is making this transformation happen. Would you consider supporting Nurse Noeleen’s work? Please go here to give a gift of any amount, or consider monthly giving.

Lifting Up South Sudan is a group of people helping transform lives in South Sudan through the power of prayer. You’ll receive a new prayer request weekly by email, and be part of a team praying to bring light and hope to this despondent part of the world. To learn more or sign up to receive prayer requests, go here.