Paul KeenanLoreto sisters want to keep working
Irish missionary sisters working in South Sudan have vowed to remain with the people as the nation once again teeters on the edge of civil war.
A tentative ceasefire was announced this week as The Irish Catholic went to press, but tensions remained high between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his ousted Vice President Riek Machar. Violence in recent days has left at least 270 people dead.
Despite the tense situation, members of the Irish Loreto sisters based in Rumbek have insisted on remaining with the local communities.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the Loreto’s Irish Provincial, Sr Ita Moynihan said Srs Colette Deasy and Maria Suelta of the Irish province together with Australian colleague Sr Maureen Burke are currently working to assist almost 700 schoolgirls in their care, who have opted to remain in the school in a bid to flee the violence.
“These are extraordinarily brave sisters,” Sr Ita said. All have witnessed violence in the 10 years since the Loreto community first established its education network in Rumbek, she said.
“Over the years they have remained and have kept going.”
St Ita, who is in constant contact with the sisters, said “they have no thoughts of pulling out and are again trying to dig in to carry on”.
“Hunger is the issue for them now,” Sr Ita said, pointing out that with the main supply link via Juba closed as the capital became the scene of fierce fighting, supplies the nuns had grown for themselves were becoming the only source of food.
“We are just praying now that all will be well,” she said.
Meanwhile, further to the north-west of Rumbek, in the township of Wau, a group of Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (FMSA), are working to care for at least 12,000 South Sudanese who sought safety in the local cathedral compound, with many more hiding in the countryside around Wau.
Dublin-based Sr Felicia Matola confirmed that the sisters “have a deep desire to stay and they ask for prayers” for what she describes as a deteriorating situation.
“Afterwards we will seek donations to build up again, but for now we ask everyone for prayers,” Sr Felicia said.
In comments to The Irish Catholic via colleagues in Dublin, Sr Rosemary Odoul writes: “On the ground the situation is dire. We thank you for your prayers and kindly ask you to keep us and our people here in prayers.”
She said the sisters were praying that the ceasefire, which came in to effect this week, will hold.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said his department is monitoring the situation closely. “The people of South Sudan have been let down too often and have already suffered far too much,” he said.
“Ireland has committed more than €8 million in humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, and South Sudanese refugees in the region, so far this year.
