Twelve Days of Christmas in Maban; Indeed, The Prince of Peace Is Born
By Nicodemus Mutunga,SJ
As the world celebrated the birth of Christ, Maban was at the forefront of this celebrations. It is one of those times of the year when most inaccessible outstations have the joy of sharing in the Eucharistic celebration. Christmas is also one of the seasons that brings people, families, and villages together as they gather, dance, and merry. During the other times of the year, most outstations are inaccessible due to the floods. This time around, only a few outstations were unlucky to have Mass because the bridge connecting the region was swept away by the floods, and the river currents were unbearable to cross through. Mass in one outstation was cancelled because of tensions in the village. At least over 30 outstations were accessible and were able to have Eucharistic celebration among them; Elfoss, located at the border with Sudan, about two and a half hours drive. This is also the time when we get the chance to visit the Christians and the sick from the furthest parts of Maban.
Vigil watch
The lack of national grid power could not stop Christians from celebrating the Christmas vigil Mass. Christians gathered all the lighting gadgets they had to witness this special, silent night. For instance, Nila outstation had to prepare a temporary tuklu (hut) for Abuna Meela to keep vigil with them because of the distance and state of the road. Christians from the outstations which get Mass once a year welcome their Abunas with songs, ululation, and dances. In most places the wait for the Abuna, three kilometres from the village.
On the other hand, everyone in Maban was eagerly waiting for the New Year. The 2024 New Year vigil celebration began with Mass which attracted not only Christians but also all other community members regardless of their religion. As the clock ticked to the long-waited hour, the mood of the people around changed abruptly, with everyone lighting up their lights and women ululating to the top of their voices. This was really a New Year for everyone present that night.
Christmas on the other side of the river
It was a year since Tomaji and Bunj 2, among other outstations, had Eucharistic celebrations. Reason being not only lack of enough priests and connecting roads but also rivers in some places, which make them inaccessible. Our Abunas had to walk for about an hour in the forest then cross the river with water at waist level to get to the Christians. One of the most touching aspect of the Christmas celebrations is the zeal, commitment and desire with which the Christians have for Eucharistic celebrations in their outstation. Some of these challenges could not prevent them from celebrating Christ’s birth.
Maban Epiphany
Many years ago, the Magi, on the backs of camel, paid a visit to the prince of peace. As Isaiah 60:6 prophesies, “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and proclaim the praise of the Lord.” This Feast coincides with arrival of nomadic communities in Maban County. The Falatas or Fulanis (are nomadic nations which migrate from West Africa to Eastern African countries every year following the rain season) camped in Maban County with hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep. It is so unique that they cross all these borders without visas and passports. We had an opportunity to interact with most of them on our way to different outstations for Eucharistic celebrations and in those Outstations as they set their camps within the community. They have a unique and welcoming culture towards everyone regardless of being a stranger to them.
The baptism of the Lord in Maban
The Catechism of the Catholic Church 536 teaches us that “the baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God suffering servant”. Baptism is the foundational sacrament for all the Catholics of which as believers of Christ, we enter the community of the Church. It purifies and makes the neophyte “a new creature,” an adopted God’s son becoming a partaker of the divine nature (CCC 1265). In Maban, many Christians brought their children to this Christian rite of passage to make them new creatures and part of the bigger family of the Universal Church. By the end of Christmastide, at least 250 infants from different outstations were baptised.
The new arrivals
As the Christmas and New Year celebrations went on, most of the people in Sudan found themselves starting the year as refugees in Maban due to the atrocities from selfish political leaders and tribal cleansing. Due to the unending clashes, we have so far received three phases of refugees within 2 weeks, with more to come. This creates a lot of pressure and lack of space, amenities, and services in Renk (the first border town), forcing humanitarian agencies to transfer most of them to Maban. The flux of refugees gets more regular and unbearable to humanitarian agencies as the war in Sudan advances towards the South. Our former bishop, the bishop of Costi, had to seek refuge in Renk as the convoy of his colleague, the bishop of Elobeid, was attacked some weeks ago.
Our main objective and mission in such situations are to accompany, serve and advocate for these displaced people and to find peace and comfort in the middle of all these. “Will my life ever be the same again? Will I find my family? I had just gotten a job! How do I manage to live here, in the middle of nowhere? These are some among other breath-taking questions from the new arrivals that expect answers from us. On arrival, we not only welcome them but also scan for those who are physically disabled and mentally disturbed for continuous and close monitoring therapy.
The visit of Fr. Bill
The year began in a style for the companions in Maban with the visit of Fr. Bill. We are happy to receive Fr. Bill Oneil, who is having his two-week’s visit to JRS Maban, to emphasize and educate JRS staff on Mission Identity. This is to ensure that JRS mission remains focused to Fr. Arrupe’s vision of serving, accompanying, and advocating to and for refugees and those in need. Fr. Bill, full of zeal, accompanied us to help receive the new arrivals from Sudan.
سنة جديدة سعيدة Snh jdydh s’eydh! Happy New Year!
