In this article, Canice Ibemsi, a Mill Hill MEP student assigned to South Sudan, reflects on the challenges faced by the people of South Sudan and the work of the missionaries in responding to those challenges. South Sudan, the youngest nation in Africa, has been deeply affected by long-standing wars, leaving its people struggling with homelessness, hunger, and trauma. Through the efforts in peacebuilding, trauma healing, and community development, the missionaries aim to restore dignity and bring Christ’s love to the poorest and most suffering, offering a healing presence to those in need. Despite the challenges, their mission remains focused on uniting and comforting the broken-hearted, bringing hope to a divided and wounded population.
In a country torn apart by long-standing wars, some of which are still prevalent, God calls out the cries of the poor and distressed of South Sudan, “whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8). In response to this triune call, missionaries of various backgrounds and charisms say like Isaiah, “here I am lord, send me”. And there they go, streaming into South Sudan to meet Christ in the poor, homeless, broken-hearted and needy; amongst them, the St. Joseph’s Missionary Society of Mill Hill, commonly known as Mill Hill Missionaries.
South Sudan is the youngest African nation, gaining independence in 2011. Hence, a neophyte in dire need of political and socio-economic stamina. The Mill Hill Missionaries made their presence once again in the country in 2016, after their long presence had been interrupted by wars in the diocese of Malakal – the then Sudan. This time around, to a more devastated and traumatized people, owing to the wars leading up to independence. No longer do they return to Malakal, but settle in the archdiocese of Juba, (now South Sudan), starting up a new parish -Holy Rosary Parish Buluk in 2018.
The aftermath of the wars glaring in: the large numbers of homeless people who sleep by the roadside and under the trees, the numerous street children roaming the streets every day begging for something to eat, the multitudes of jobless parents and graduates, the physically challenged and largely traumatized population of Juba and the country at large. Deep frustration looms in the hearts and minds of the people. Hunger and bitterness are all residents. Deep wounds of pain and hurt, seem to be eternal, and vengefulness lurking around like a Fowler seeking only to destroy. Human dignity is traded at the expense of livestock. Yet we are called like Mother Theresa of Calcutta to see Christ in the poor and dying of South Sudan.
In the spirit and mind of our founder Hubert Vaughan, we venture into “where human dignity is crushed, and Christ almost sent to the land of oblivion.” What to do, what not to do? Where to start? Whom to start with and not? All these questions knocking into the mind and adding to the headache of the difficult climate. Yet it is particularly to such a people we must go, as Vaughan puts it, “where Christ least known and most needed.”
Notwithstanding, in the spirit and charism of the society, we work long and hard in peace building, reconciliation for social koinonia amongst the people, integral human development, trauma healing, and community development. With our outreach reflected in ministering to the poor, sick, abandoned, homeless, imprisoned, the housebound, spending time, listening and being present with them in their pain and anguish. Peace-building and reconciliatory workshops, sometimes accompanied by spiritual walks and exercises, are organized occasionally. Trauma healing and youth empowerment also fall in line. Team building, education and social inclusion via workshops and counseling as well. All age groups and groups of persons targeted and impacted by our presence and closeness to them. And slowly, we heal the broken, rediscovering and making Christ known in every human being.
Challenging though it is, but stealthily we become unifiers to a division-stricken people, “wounded healers” to a heartbroken and gravely wounded population, loving those whom society and the world forget (Vaughan). We make ourselves one with broken-hearted, downtrodden, despised, neglected, despairing and the poorest of the poor. That by this they may know they are not alone. A presence that alone heals and comforts, restoring hope to all the best we can. Christ himself the author of mission, being in us and working in us to renew the face of the earth. His grace leads on and continues to strengthen and fulfil. We entrust and totally rely on his grace to be the true “drums” of hope to his people.
Canice Ibemsi, MHM
