Thanksgiving in Juba

YCS participant from the Diocese of Rumbek, South Sudan.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Fr. Sylvester and I travelled to Juba. As usual it was a multi-purpose trip. The main reason for our visit was for me to address an international meeting of the Young Christian Students (YCS) who gathered to celebrate 25 years of the movement's presence in Sudan. There were youth present from most of the dioceses in Sudan, as well as from Uganda and Kenya. The event was organized by our friend, Fr. Martin Ochaya Lino, Secretary General of the Archdiocese of Juba and chaplain and former member of the YCS. I was asked to address the participants on the theme, "A Personal Relationship with God." The youth were very attentive and responsive. Later that day Juba Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro presided at a Mass that included the blessing of the tomb of YCS member Abraham Gajuk, who was killed in 1992 during a peaceful protest against forcibly imposed Islamic indoctrination

Fr. Herald addressing the youth on the topic of "A Personal Relationship with God."

The YCS event was co-sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with the assistance of another good friend, Tom Purekal, CRS Peace Building Program Coordinator for South Sudan. I know Tom from our mutual time in Honduras, where he served as a volunteer at the Farm of the Child on the north coast. Tom arranged our accommodations in Juba, as well as helping to facilitate our participation in a genuine American Thanksgiving dinner (complete with turkey and pumpkin pie) at the USAID compound in Juba. Our trip was rounded out by loading up on supplies for Mercy House that are unavailalbe in Torit.

Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro blessing the tomb of YCS martyr Abraham Gajuk.

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