Recollection for Religious

On Friday, November 6, accompanied by Dennis Kiyimba and Martin Omar (one of the mechanics of the diocese),I travelled to Narus (about four hours east of Torit) to give a morning of recollection the following day to a group of religious sisters and brothers serving in the diocese. About 20 km from our destination we came across Kenyan stranded with a vehicle that stalled and would not start - a common experience on the roads in Sudan. Because it was late in the day and could be dangerous for him to be left on the road at night, we towed him the remaining distance to Narus, where he could leave the vehicle and catch public transportation back to Kenya to get the spare part he needed. Our route took us across a sandy riverbed that is usually dry, but that day was flowing with water from a recent rainfall. Although the rope we were using to tow him kept breaking, we finally made it into Narus as the sun was setting.



The next day I gathered with three Sisters of the Sacred Heart, two contemplative Maryknoll Sisters, a Sister of Mercy, three Brothers of St. Martin de Porres and a Xavierian Brother. Most of them teach at one of the several (boys and girls, primary, secondary, and vocational/technical) boarding schools the diocese runs in Narus. We reflected on the theme: the Cross, the Place and Posture of Consecrated Persons, in the midst of the Challenges and Opportunities in Africa, drawing from the experience of the recent Synod of Bishops for Africa and elements of Franciscan Spirituality.

Following the morning of recollection we had a meal together and celebrated the 89th birthday of Sr. Madeline, one of the Maryknoll Sisters. They came to Sudan at the beginning of the civil war in the 1980s. At one point, Sr. Madeline almost died of cerebral malaria contracted while the sisters were fleeing from the advancing battle line of the two armies. At 89, though, she's still strong and full of life, and an amazing example of perseverance, prayer and peace.