Sacramental accompaniment and testimonies - Renewed Hope through Pastoral Accompaniment of refugees in Adjumani Refugee Settlements
By Fr. Victor Awiti, SJ
The goal of mission in the Society of Jesus is to save souls. The JRS pastoral activities has been one of the many ways JRS serves and accompanies our Refugee in their settlements. Administering of the sacraments, Spiritual direction and Spiritual conversations are some of the pastoral avenues of accompanying our Refugee brothers and sister in their challenges but also to know God and to familiarize themselves with Jesus Christ our Lord. The catechism formation and eventually receiving the various sacrament helps them to understand their faith and to solidify their Christian formations.
Amidst the challenges of displacement and uncertainty, moments of spiritual grace and accompaniment shine brightly in the lives of the refugees in Adjumani. Adjumani belongs to the Diocese of Arua. The Bishop of Arua has entrusted JRS Adjumani Project, though Fr. Victor Awiti SJ, with the pastoral and sacramental care for three refugee settlements Ayilo I, Ayilo II and Boroli in Adjumani district.
Through the methodical catechesis and pastoral accompaniment, refugees have found renewed hope and a deeper sense of belonging to the community of faith. Their testimonies speak to the transformative power of these sacred rites and sacraments, not only as personal encounters with God’s love but also as communal affirmations of unity and resilience. Through its Pastoral Program, on 15th September 2024, Christ the King Chapel in Ayilo II, 72 children and youth received the Sacraments of Baptism and first Holy Communion. After mass, the parishioners had an interaction with the pastoral coordinator and tabled their testimonies. As I listened to their stories, it became clear that for these individuals, sacraments are more than just rituals, they are milestones of faith in a journey marked by hardship and perseverance.
My name is Paulino, I am the Catechist of Christ the King Chapel in Ayilo II Refugee Settlement. I am very happy today. With support from JRS, through Fr. Victor Awiti, SJ we welcomed 62 new members to the family of Christ. We baptised 44 children and elderly people and 18 people received their First Holy Communion. They are really happy, and they appreciate JRS for taking such an initiative. They appreciate JRS for bringing the body of Christ to them they have accessed it today and have been yearning for it. We assure JRS that we the members of Christ the King, shall continue teaching the young children and the new members who have come to the Christian family as we continue to do the work of God.
My name is Elena Foni. I am 18 years old, and I am an Altar Servicer from Saint Bakitah in Ayilo II Refugee Settlement. To me, baptism means an increase in the church of Christ, an increase in the number of Christians and Christianity overall. When I grow up, I want to become a Reverend Sister. I want to help those in need, the poorest and those who are suffering in different ways. I want to thank JRS, through Fr. Victor Awiti, SJ in a special way for supporting us to develop our faith, and for empowering our church leaders. I urge JRS to continue doing the same for other refugee settlements as well.
Meet Solomon Kiir (19 years) and Sarah John (16 years) who were baptised on 15th September 2024 in Christ the King Chapel, Ayilo II Refugee Settlement. They are both happy to be baptized and share a common understanding of baptism, ‘entering a new life and joining the big family of Christ’. They pledged to remain rooted in their faith, participate in the activities of the church and unite with the different groups in the church for continued grooming and mentorship.
Sarah and Solomon are just a few youths who are testament of the good works of spirit that JRS pastoral department is doing in the refugee community in Adjumani. One thing that is evident is that Through Pastoral accompaniment, the church is empowering the young people to take on church leadership. The choir and the mass animation are done exclusively by the young people in the community, under the guidance of the church elders and leaders. Through its Pastoral program, JRS continues to train and mentor the young people in leadership and life skills.
Alongside the administration of the Holy Sacraments, the pastoral department of JRS empowers church leaders through Catechist formations, and provides platforms to promote peaceful coexistence among refugees and host communities by providing trainings in peacebuilding, conflict resolution and reconciliation for religious actors, community leaders and youth animators.
Deliberate efforts have been made to reach out to women and the youth who are the majority in the parish communities. Pastoral Department of JRS has trained 30 women Catechists and continues to meet women from time to time for spiritual enrichment.
