Marist missionary in Solidarity with South Sudan

Since 2013, the Marist Brothers have been actively involved in the Solidarity with South Sudan (SSS) project, which currently has 19 members from 14 Catholic congregations. The Marist Brothers are present in the Riimenze community, 30 kilometres from Yambio, one of the 4 inter-congregational communities of the project.  In 2013, Br Christian Mbam, was one of the first Marists physically present in the country, and in 2014, he was joined by Brothers Longinius Dimgba and Mathew-Mary Ogudu. Subsequently, Br Matthew-Mary had to leave Sudan to work at MIC. Brothers Christian and Longinius remained in the country to continue the Marist Mission. At the end of 2020, Br Christian Mban finished his stay in South Sudan, after having dedicated his mission – for 7 years – to education, pastoral work and agriculture. Following his departure, the Province of Nigeria has sent Br Sylvanus-Aniebiet Victor Okon to join Br Longinus Dimgba and together they will continue to work on the project of the Unions of Superiors General (UISG and USG) supported by 260 congregations, benefactors and international agencies working to improve the standard of living of the needy people in South Sudan.

Sylvanus-Aniebiet gives a report on the SSS project and his mission there as a Marist:

“Solidarity with South Sudan members work in four major areas which aimed at training, accompanying, and empowering the South Sudanese to be self-reliant and sustainable. These four critical areas of need involve, training of midwives and nurses, sustainable agriculture, pastoral work and teacher training.

In order to give life/or continuity to the above mission in South Sudan I was posted to Solidarity Teachers Training College (STTC), after a long process of discernment and screening by the commission in charge of mission in the general house, ably led by Br. Fachi Fms and the director for Solidarity with South Sudan Fr. Jim Green MAfr, where I have been appointed a Tutor by the executive director of Solidarity with South Sudan and the principal of the college have also appointed me The Dean of the Students affairs of TTC.

Furthermore, I will be teaching professional studies and Christian Religious Studies in the college. The college is training professional teachers for primary school. So far so good the staff and students I met are accommodative and welcoming and I am optimistic of working amicably with them, I will ensure that the aims and objectives of Solidarity with South Sudan is accomplished.

Another beautiful side of the ‘coin’ is the Internationality of the Religious Community in Solidarity Teachers Training College(STTC). The composition of the Community is very unique. It is a mixed community of mature men and women of God. In all honesty am the least in religious life, experience and above all in age. Am the “Benjamin” of the house but am also a special gift to the community as testify by almost all of them. The specialness of the community is seen in the nationalities of each of her members. (Sr. Jacinta is an Irish, Sr. Margaret Shin an American, Sr. Guile from Peru, Br. Methodius from Ghana, and Br Chris from India) 

They are as marvelous as the marvelous of Champagnat, here we take turns in cooking, doing the dishes and cleaning the house and in shopping for the community and driving the community from time to time. It is a very sensitive and careering community where no one seek for power and superiority, it’s a down to earth and hardworking community, here in my view it can be said as of the earliest community ‘see how they love one another’.

Less I forget the solidarity also pay special attention to ensure that South Sudanese girls and women have equal access to education and training and strive to prevent gender violence but the challenge remains that the girl child and women are reluctant to key into this great agenda for them, girls are easily married off or put in the family way early, polygamy has eaten deep in the fabric of the society.

I hope to use some of my holiday time for vocation campaign to religious life in South Sudan if am I am facilitated and empowers. Am grateful for the opportunity given me to be a missionary in my continent. Am grateful to identify with the people of this young country and in contributing my quarter to the upliftment and improvement of literacy of this young country. More so I hope to draw from the well of the experienced members of my community for my growth. Just a brief testimony with Solidarity with South Sudan”.

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Br Sylvanus Victor Okon