Aid to the Church in Need: Sudan: Support for a retreat for the clergy of the diocese of Khartoum

Sudan: Support for a retreat for the clergy of the diocese of Khartoum

Posted by Project of the Week on 7/6/2009, 10:03 pm
Board Administrator

SUDAN

Support for a fellowship and study week for the clergy of the diocese of Khartoum

For over 20 years the people of Sudan had to endure a bloody civil war between North and South, the wounds of which are still far from healed, even four years after the signing of a peace accord. Some 2.5 million dead, 5 million refugees in neighbouring countries and some 4 million internally displaced refugees within Sudan, countless wounded souls and an entire generation that has experienced almost nothing but war, expulsion, violence and poverty – such has been the tragic toll of this civil war. Of the 54 priests in the Archdiocese of Khartoum, the majority received their training during this war and in the most difficult of circumstances. The mere fact that the seminary had to be moved several times made their formation all the more difficult.

For the refugees who fled to Khartoum from the South of the country, the Church has long been their only source of help. In every respect, the priests of the archdiocese have been there to help them – with material aid, education, etc. And all this despite the fact that they are too few to cope with an ocean of need. Not surprisingly there have also been a number of priests who have experienced a crisis in their own vocation during these extreme times, so that the pastors themselves are sometimes in need of pastoral support and counselling. And always, there are far too few priests.

Once a year the priests of the Archdiocese of Khartoum come together to share their experiences and problems and help one another to find solutions for the challenges facing the Church in Sudan – and equally to deepen their own formation. This year one of the principal concerns is over vocations to the priesthood, since there are still too few vocations. A way must be found to make young people more aware of this and perhaps hear the call of Our Lord in their own lives.

"We are sure that this week we are due to spend together will benefit all the priests, both spiritually and humanly, and that they will draw new courage from it to face and overcome the challenges before them“, writes Father Carlo Uyaka, the Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Khartoum, who is responsible for the diocesan clergy. The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) as promised to support the priests retreat with a grant of $5,500.

To help this cause please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

The priests are on the side of the poorest
(Code: 150-01-79)

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Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org