Worrying Times

South Sudan has negotiated elections and the referendum, and achieved independence, with remarkable clam and stability. The fears of outbreaks of violence and lawlessness have been largely unfounded and the country has moved smoothly to becoming the world’s newest nation. There has been some inflation in prices and some shortages, especially in northern regions, but one can only say we have been well led to this point. Peace and stability have been preserved. One cannot fail to notice there is a ‘liberation’ among the women in the style of western clothing they are now choosing to wear. People seem to be more relaxed and confident that they are indeed able to choose their own destiny rather than suffer the imposition from others; but there are some emerging concerns. The mood of optimism and confidence continues but slowly the awareness is dawning that independence does not bring instant rewards for the general population.  There has been no town power in Malakal since August 25th. The people of that city formerly received the benefits of a power supply every night. I was there for the independence celebrations on July 9th and we enjoyed power all that day. Before independence, a power grid operating during daylight hours in Wau. That has now ceased. Wau and Malakal, after Juba, are the two largest towns in South Sudan.  In Juba, however, twenty-four hours of power had continued. After all, it is the capital of the new country. But the last ‘town power’ in Juba was supplied on October 5th and [...]

Malakal news from Br Denis

Well I have just returned to Malakal, where I hope to stay till the end of the year.  I was in Yambio for the Independence Day celebrations, and even though it is far from the Capital, Juba, it was still a treat to be part of a crowd so keen on celebrating their longed-for freedom after so many years of suffering, war and persecution.  We arrived about 11 and left about 4, and experienced a number of speeches, entertainment, march-pasts, and acrobats.  The highlight was without doubt the change of flags, the new national anthem which everyone learned, and the declaration by the Governor of the Independence of South Sudan.  More than half of Yambio gathered at the sports stadium for the event.  When we arrived we were escorted to the back of the grandstand, and then someone went and got seats for us at the front of the stadium – honoured guests!  Everyone was supplied with a snack of water or soft drink and a few biscuits.  Attached are a few shots of the enthusiasm of the crowd, note the army – fortunately their trigger finger was not dancing. The poor builder here in Malakal has been hampered by all kinds of problems.  Most goods to Malakal have in the past come from the North.  Some barges are impounded by the North after they are loaded, another was loaded here in Malakal with beans and sank in the port..  There is nothing around capable of removing it, causing more problems. At present half the [...]

Dry and dusty

I notice Malakal made the BBC News again today.  It wasn’t here, but near enough for the BBC! “57 dead as miliia fights SPLA”  It was actually on Saturday, 30km from here, and sadly there seems to have been as many civilian deaths as army. Derek from the UN who came for Easter brunch with us was involved in getting 35 children from the fighting area to the hospital. Horrible stories that one really doesn’t want to hear at Easter. There was also some shooting at the other end of Malakal on Sat night but we didn’t hear it as we were joyously celebrating in Church.  The ceremony started at 7 pm and finished at 11.45!!  I slipped out at 9 at the start of the baptisms (313 in total), and returned at 10, just as they finished.  Betty, an Irish nun, informed me I’d only missed ”more of the same”. Sunday lunch at 3pm was memorable.  Thady, an Irishman from the UN, bought a huge turkey. I did desserts, others vegies etc. Wines, whiskey and beer. It all flowed. The Irish nuns certainly like a drop of the doin’s! Our finish in Leer was exciting. On the last day the local Commissioner authorised the recruitment of 250 men for the SPLA from Leer.  His method was to send police and army to houses from midnight on, and grab any men aged 20 to 30 to take them to his compound. When classes started, we heard that 4 teachers had been grabbed.  After an hour [...]

Br Denis reports on life in Leer (Southern Sudan)

After bunkering down in Malakal for 36 hours, avoiding rampant gunfire, we had a week of quiet.  Then demining teams came through looking for unexploded shells, and life was back to normal.  One shell they missed was found only when school returned in the High School next door.  It came through the roof, didn’t go off, and embedded itself in the concrete floor.  They finally managed to decommission the UXD without exploding it, and ruining the building – that would have  ruined our back fence!Have been in Leer 2 weeks now – 6 to go. Weather is not as bad as it will be.  Today started at 27, and will probably rise to about 37. A wind dries everything out rapidly, and spreads a fine layer of dust over all.  In Malakal I could put my laundry on the line at 8.30am and bring it in at 9am – bone dry. Here I wash after showering in the evening, and it dries overnight in my bedroom! I do have to spread it out.Classes have started.  We walk from the mission compound at 8.30 and don’t get back till 5.30.  It’s about 25 mins there, but longer on the way home as my feet drag, and it feels about 60º in the sun.Most of our second years returned, but we have only 12 in first year so far, and one of those is a bit dodgy. Named Angelina, a misnomer, she hasn’t managed a full day yet. She is the first student I have not warmed [...]

Tense and Hot

Had a rather uneventful trip back here. 5 hours in Bangkok airport, where I had to go through immigration to get my bags, take them up 2 flights and get back in through customs.  Lucky I had 5 hours because I had to queue for over n hour to get back in!  Then a 7 hour stop at Nairobi airport.  On arrival at Juba I went to bed at 4pm, got up at 6am, and headed here to Malakal. At Juba airport we couldn’t taxi up to the terminal as there was a red carpet rolled out for some dignitary who was going to front – hopefully soon – as the soldiers waiting for him looked already pretty weak from standing in the hot sun.  I wouldn’t want to be a Sudanese army bandsman as they were wearing a wonderful looking red jacket of rich red wool!!!  An Armenia Air plane, and brand new army helicopters were the other interesting changes. At the house I was reminded I was back in Sudan by the little things – the doors with no handles, leaking plumbing, dusty rutted roads, and people standing around with nothing to do.  I had also forgotten how hot the cold water is in the middle of the day, so my shower before the nap was cleansing rather than refreshing! Malakal has been marvellous until last night.  The weather has been relatively cool. Nothing over 40, and a sheet needed in the early hours of the morning. Wind not too strong so the [...]

YOUNG AUSSIE STEPS UP TO THE DE LA SALLE BROTHERS’ LIFE

On 7thAugust, Lewis Harwood will depart Sydney to join four other Novices in Napa, California.

His long 15-hour flight to the Golden State will mark the beginning of a year-long journey he is about to commence as he enters the final stage of the De La Salle Brothers’ training program.

“I’m really excited about the Novitiate in the USA. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen my relationship with God and to deepen my understanding of the Lasallian tradition. Going to the Novitiate is a big step and it’s not a decision that I reached without careful consideration. But I’m definitely ready for it,” Lewis said.

Lewis, 24, has been living and working with the De La Salle Brothers since mid 2009. As a qualified teacher, he has worked at the Brothers’ schools in Mentone, Victoria and Bankstown, New South Wales.  He first made contact with Br Mark McKeon, Director of Vocations, in 2008 and since then he has been learning more about himself, the Brothers’ life, and considering whether or not it is something that is right for him.

“In the last two years I have seen Lewis grow in his determination to become a De La Salle Brother. It’s certainly a life which is not suited to everyone, but he has gone from strength to strength in being able to connect with the life of a Brother and the Lasallian mission. I have no doubt that he will shine as a De La Salle Brother,” Br Mark said.

The Novitiate is at Mont La Salle, the Brothers’ 338 acre [...]

We don’t and we do

Last Wednesday, one of our teachers in the first year programme, Elizabeth, told Ninet she had endured a terrible toothache for the past ten days. So Ninet rang the dental section of the United Nations and out we drove to ‘Log Base’, the UN compound a few kilometres out of Malakal. The Indian dentist attended immediately to two fillings and told her to come back for work on three root canals…all at no charge. 

Most of the population of Malakal do not have access to dentists. If the people can get to Log Base, they will be assisted for free but it is a daunting proposition for most of them. The capacity of many local people to talk with ‘ex-pats’ let alone pay for any kind of health service is normally very limited, even for teachers. In first world countries we take a lot for granted and expect a lot.   

All of my life I have expected a clean water supply but here I have had to become used to showering and washing my clothes in water containing varying amounts of river colloids. I try to avoid the hours just after pumping when the stirred up water is at its muddiest. We never drink it but the locals do! We go often to the water purification plant near the Nile to fill-up gerry cans of clean water  – for free. We are lucky. Our community in Juba has to buy drinking water. By the way, I can buy a 600ml bottle of water here for about 29 [...]

Survive, Thrive or Fully Alive

The Easter vigil was celebrated with great style here in Malakal. There were approximately two hundred baptisms and confirmations in our parish church and four hundred in the cathedral. There were energetic liturgical dancers and much singing with great rhythm and energy. The church was crammed and there were several hundred more people on seats outside the church with some still standing.  

I entered the church at 6:45am and perspired my way through the next three hours. Was that the conclusion? No we had not yet reached the offertory and the lines of those being baptised and the confirmees still filled the centre aisle. The offertory would not come for another hour. Mercifully by 9:45pm it had become a little cooler and my shirt began to dry out! The ceremony concluded at 11:50am.

 At the Easter vigil, we had all seven readings, not a reduced number as is common in Western countries. I could understand some references, ‘Ibrahim’, ‘Isaac’, ‘hojanna’ and the like but it was not helpful to me that Arabic was used for the entire duration of the service. As it was, I focussed on surviving but the people seemed to thrive and, at times, come fully alive. 

There were some girls doing a liturgical dance – aged about sixteen. I found myself thinking what was it like for them growing up to age eleven in a war zone. How have they found the last five years? 

Here the people welcome us as ‘kawadjas’ who are willing to journey with them. The women, in their distinctively coloured laos [...]

Br Paul Rogers’ return to OZ marks the end of an era in Singapore

De La Salle Brother Paul Rogers will take up the position of Principal at De La Salle College Malvern in Melbourne in Term 2, 2010.

Since 2001, Br Paul has been the Headmaster at the Catholic Junior College in Singapore, one of eight pre-University matriculation level Colleges in Singapore. His work in turning around the academic, pastoral and physical circumstances of the Catholic Junior College is well known and admired. 

His departure  marks the end of an era in which Catholic nuns and brothers helmed the schools founded by their predecessors.  In 2010, the leadership positions of all 35 Catholic schools in Singapore will be held by lay people.

FULL STORY: http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20091023-175398.html

Heroes Live Forever – New DVD

The story of John Baptist de La Salle has inspired milions across the world for centuries. His work with the poor and marginalised has led to honouring this man through thousands of statues which have been erected in his memory world wide. Two young Australians recently journeyed to Europe to honour this man by making a film about his life. Tom McIlroy and Dave Collins recently launched their DVD titled “Beyond Statues and Doors: in the Footsteps of De La Salle.

Filmed at various sites which were significant in John Baptist’s life in France and Italy, the DVD provides insight into the challenges he faced in establishing free and Christian schools. Anyone who is interested in learning about de La Salle’s life, will find this fast paced modern production good viewing! The DVD is available for a small fee which covers production and postage costs. Visit www.beyondstatuesanddoors.com