Diary of a Pastoral Safari to Haat Region

I went to Haat to celebrate the sacraments with the Catholic communities on that remote region, to share in their lives and witness the enduring missionary spirit of St. Daniel Comboni among the Nuer-Gawar people.

Three days on a canoe

On October 2, I set out with our eldest catechist, Musa Gatjang, the vice-chairperson of the parish council. Our journey from Paguir, the current parish headquarters, to the Haat region took three days using a traditional canoe. We were accompanied by Stephen Kueth and James Leer Gai, members of Haat region, and Peter Buoth and James Ruot, the head catechists of the two main centres in the area, Diit and Haat.

Travelling by local canoe through the vast waters for hours and hours was an adventure in itself. We came across crocodiles, monitor lizards, hippos, and countless species of fish, large and small. Our experienced boatmen knew well how to navigate the White Niles’s strong currents. They also could often identify the animals moving through the waters near us.

We spent our first night at Toch centre in St. Peter and Paul’s chapel. The following day, October 3, we continued to Gangnyang chapel, under Nyadin centre, where we slept. On Sunday, October 4, we celebrated a beautiful liturgy with its small community.

That afternoon, we continued our journey and spent the night with another Catholic community in Kotjaths. At 3 a.m. of October 5, we resumed our navigation and reached the Haat region, arriving at St. Peter's chapel in Menime Pomb around midday. The long journey was a reminder of the geographical challenges faced by these communities and also of the determination and faith that sustain them.

Living faith among the Nuer-Gawar

On October 6, at St. Peter’s chapel in Menime Pomb, I baptized four children and blessed their newly built grass-thatched church. The following day, October 7, at St. Mary’s chapel in Lingiri, another 16 children received baptism and the new chapel was blessed.

Members of the local Presbyterian Church joined us in an enriching ecumenical prayer, expressing the spirit of Christian unity and fraternity.

On October 9, we travelled by canoe to St. Peter and Paul chapel in Pakuem, under Diit centre, to prepare for the feast of St. Daniel Comboni.

On October 10, men, women, and young people gathered from the various centres and chapels for a colourful celebration filled with traditional dancing, drumming, singing, and joyous expressions of faith. During the celebration, 77 children and adults were baptised.

Women, youth, and community development

The pastoral programme also involved practical activities to strengthen community life. The women’s group learned how to produce multipurpose liquid soap, while the Com-Maria group learned how to make missionary rosaries using materials I brought.

On Sunday, October 11, I blessed the newly built St. Peter and Paul grass thatched chapel in Pakuem and presided over the Sunday liturgy. In the afternoon, beside the river in a beautiful green setting, we videorecorded six Catholic songs in the Nuer language performed by the local youth choir.

Dressed in colourful outfits, the choir sang enthusiastically, accompanied by traditional drums and joyful ululations that echoed throughout the village. There is no electronic keyboard. The choir uses traditional instruments to make celebrations vibrant and culturally rich.

St Daniel Comboni’s vision

The large congregations that gathered for the celebrations and the 97 baptisms are is a powerful sign of hope and the continued growth of the Catholic Church in this remote region even in absence of a priest or deacon.

Despite widespread flooding and the ongoing political crisis in South Sudan, these people remain rich in faith, hospitality, resilience, and love. Although they may have the opportunity to see a missionary only once a year because of the great distances involved, their Christian communities remain well organized and strong in faith.

In the absence of an ordained minister, catechists lead prayers, organize catechesis, and work with local church’s committees to sustain the life of the community. Their commitment reflects Comboni’s vision of empowering local people to become the protagonists of their own evangelization and development.

Nevertheless, I witnessed that, access to schools and hospitals remains a major challenge.

From Fangak to Kajo-Keji

This safari, for me, was more than an ordinary pastoral visit; it was a journey of faith, hope, and solidarity. For many people, it was their first encounter with a South Sudanese Comboni missionary. Their joy and enthusiasm deeply touched me. I am enriched by their hospitality, resilience and generosity.

We returned to Paguir, the parish headquarters, on October 13. The next day I flew to Juba. My priestly ordination is scheduled for December 8 at my home Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lomin, in Kajo-Keji County, by the border with Uganda.

I left the Fangak temporarily to join the organizing committee in charge of preparing this important event. I will be the first Comboni missionary from my parish. It was established in 1985.

As I prepare for my priestly ordination, I carry with me the faith, prayers, and hopes of the people of Haat.

May St. Daniel Comboni continue to inspire faith, hope, love, and unity, and intercede for peace in the Haat region, throughout our parish, and across all of South Sudan.

Deacon James Komakech, mccj