Superior General visits Sudan: “Reflection on future scenarios alive with hope”

He arrived in Port Sudan on Tuesday, 4^th November. On Wednesday and Thursday, he had the opportunity to visit the new premises of the Comboni College of Science and Technology, the secondary school and some of our schools in the suburbs. He also met online with the auxiliary bishop of Khartoum, Monsignor Daniel Adwok, who was leaving for the plenary assembly of bishops in Malakal. The bishop expressed the desire that the Comboni Missionaries continue their work of catechesis and pastoral care on one hand, and their educational commitment on the other. He stressed the importance of being realistic in this time of war and thanked the Comboni Missionaries for their witness of resilience in Kosti.

After obtaining (with some delay) the necessary permits, the Superior General and Provincial Superior left on Friday 7^th for Atbara to meet Archbishop Michael Didi and hear from him what the vision of the local Church might be in this difficult moment. On Saturday 8^th, they continued their journey to Kosti, arriving on the morning of Sunday 9^th, in time for mass.

The superior general was able to visit parish centres and schools (particularly Kadugli, Block 63, Lea and Goz el Salam) and was very impressed to see that the confrères in Kosti are happy to stay, despite all the difficulties. Among the people, too, the determination to move forward and not give up is palpable.

After further delays in obtaining permits, the General and the Provincial left on Thursday 13^th for Omdurman, where they joined Father Yousif William and Father Lorenzo Baccin, who had already moved into the Missionaries of Charity house two weeks earlier. On Friday 14^th, they visited Khartoum (Comboni College, Villa Gilda, Saint Francis school and cemetery, cathedral) and our provincial house in Khartoum North. The desolation of central Khartoum is only timidly interrupted by few people walking through the deserted streets; yet, here and there, shops are being repaired and men are working to rebuild what remains of their homes and workplaces.

Our provincial house, on the banks of the Nile, is rapidly being reclaimed by vegetation, a further sign of the resilience of life and the passing of time, However, overall, we can be grateful that the buildings have suffered only minor damage. On Saturday 15^th, they visited the parish of Masalma, with its two schools. It is striking to hear how the teachers were willing to work for almost no salary in order to bring children back to school. On Sunday 16^th, the fathers celebrated with the Christian community in Thaura (block 48).

The visit allowed us to understand that, for now, it is best to reopen our presence in Masalma. For this reason, we are now asking the archbishop to appoint one of us as parish priest. We are also planning to start some maintenance work (the main part concerns the repair if the metal sheets pierced by bullets, and then some walls, the furnishings and restoration of electricity and water).

The Superior General concluded his visit to Port Sudan with personal meetings with the confrères of the community, and an online meeting with the Provincial Council and the General Councillor for APDESAM. Reflection on future scenarios is lively and full of hope.

On the last day, the Superior General participated in the celebration of the Mass in Christ the King centre in Inqaz, a southern suburb of Port Sudan, where – thanks also to the solidarity of the DSP and the Italian Province – new school facilities were built last year. This too is a sign of hope, as the local community prepares to return to being a centre where catechesis and liturgies may continue regularly.

The war in Sudan continues to rage, as the terrible news from Darfur remind us. The forest is dense, and at times the path can seem dark and impenetrable. But one step at a time, the path opens up.

PHOTOGALLERY

Fr. Diego Dalle Carbonare