Missile hits Salesian Sisters' house in Khartoum Sudan

Report at Independent Catholic News - Source: ACN

By John Newton and Filipe d'Avillez
Dated Monday, 6 November 2023 - here is a full copy:

Sudan: Missile hits Salesian Sisters' house 

Damage at Dar Mariam Mission in Khartoum (© ACN).

A bomb has caused major damage to the Salesian Sisters' mission centre in Sudan. Dar Mariam Mission in Khartoum - which houses five religious Sisters, a priest and lay people who sought refuge there - was hit at 6.50am last Friday (3rd November).

Fr Jacob Thelekkadan, the resident priest, said that the bomb hit the building's first floor, and those in the house at the time thought it was a miracle that no one was killed. Casualties were minimised as the women and children staying there were all gathered on the ground floor at the time.

Fr Thelekkadan said: "We cannot imagine the harm that these explosions would have caused if it landed on the ground floor."

Some residents suffered slight injuries. One young mother and her two children, aged seven and four, received minor head wounds.

The first floor, which sustained most of the damage, houses most of the bedrooms.

Fr Thelekkadan told ACN that the bomb broke into two when it hit the building, causing two explosions. The priest said: "The first part of the bomb shattered the teacher's room, hurting him on both his legs, but not very seriously.

"The second part of the bomb shattered the two rooms of the Sisters and their room doors flew off and fell a metre away. Two of the Salesian Sisters were in one room and the room door and toilet door fell on them. One of them was injured in the back, though not seriously. The doors probably saved her from the heavy shrapnel of the bomb."

He added: "The bomb then tore through the brick wall of the toilet, making a large hole, and then through the brick wall of the room of two other Sisters who were already in the ground-floor chapel."

All those injured in the blasts were taken to hospital, but have already been discharged.

Fr Thelekkadan said a painting of Our Lady was destroyed, adding "We are certain that Our Blessed Mother wanted to sacrifice herself for all of us. Thus, the beautiful portrait of Our Blessed Mother shattered into pieces. I want to reiterate the continuous provident care of God on all in Dar Mariam. The maternal protection of Our Blessed Mother reigns in Dar Mariam."

Fr Thelekkadan was in charge of St Joseph's Vocational Centre in Khartoum, which closed because of heavy fighting. He stayed in Sudan to support the Salesian sisters who are looking after not only women and children, but also the elderly and infirm at the Dar Mariam Mission.

He said: "Continue to pray that this senseless and tragic war will come to an end and that God may grant the gift of lasting peace to the Sudan."

Estimates vary, but according to the UN special envoy for Sudan, Volker Perthes, at least 5,000 people have been killed, and over 12,000 wounded since the conflict started in April.

View original: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/48424

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Pope Francis appeals for end to violence in Sudan

Report from Catholic Leader, Australia

By CNA AND STAFF WRITERS 

Wednesday 26 April 2023 - full copy:

Pope Francis appeals for end to violence in Sudan

Prayers: Pope Francis. Photo: CN

POPE Francis has appealed for an end to violence in Sudan and a return to dialogue.

“I invite everyone to pray for our Sudanese brothers and sisters,” he said after reciting the midday Regina Coeli prayer with people gathered in St Peter’s Square on April 23.

The Pope had already expressed his concern about Sudan after the midday prayer on April 16; fighting between forces loyal to two different generals has led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians since April 13.

The power struggle has brought violence, shootings and bombings to the capital Khartoum and elsewhere.

Electricity, internet and access to food and water have been cut off for many of the people.

“Unfortunately, the situation in Sudan remains grave, and therefore I renew my appeal for an end to the violence as soon as possible and for a return to the path of dialogue,” Pope Francis said.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported April 20 that between 10,000 and 20,000 people had fled Sudan’s western Darfur region in the previous few days and sought refuge in neighboring Chad, which already hosts more than 370,000 Sudanese refugees.

“The majority of those arriving are women and children, who are currently sheltering out in the open,” it said in a press release.

“The initial most pressing needs are water, food, shelter, health care, child protection and prevention of gender-based violence. Due to the violence experienced by those crossing the border, psychosocial support is also among our top priorities.”

Meanwhile, Priest and Church workers are among civilians fearing for their lives as armed forces struggle for control of key installations in Sudan’s capital.

Kinga von Schierstaedt, from Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, spoke with one of the charity’s project partners in Khartoum – near to an area held by the Rapid Support Forces , the state-backed paramilitary group fighting with government troops.

Mrs von Schierstaedt stressed that all civilians were being affected by the conflict.

“The Catholic Church in Sudan is very small, as over 95 per cent of the population is Muslim. As this is not an ideological or religious conflict, all citizens are equally affected. Believers, priests and religious are unable to leave their houses. 

Mass on Sunday has been stopped, and priests are no longer celebrating daily Mass in the church. In the crisis zones the life of faith continues only in people’s houses,” she said.

“Many people are leaving the inner-city areas where the shooting is taking place.

“Besides that, some of them lack electricity, and the water they need to survive, so they are fleeing to friends and relatives, mostly outside the city.

“We don’t yet have any reports of big waves of refugees or refugee camps, but there is certainly a flight from the cities.”

OSV/Zenit

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View original: https://catholicleader.com.au/news/pope-francis-appeals-for-end-to-violence-in-sudan/

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