AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN – Vocation is a mystery: sharing the Word of God with those who have never heard it

AFRICA/SOUTH SUDA – Vocation is a mystery: sharing God’s Word with those who have not heard it

Friday, October 7, 2022

Juba (Agenzia Fides) – A young missionary joined the Comboni because of his simplicity and kindness.
Tap Simon Yomkuey, a Comboni missionary in South Sudan, made his first religious vows May 23, 2020. “Why did you decide to become a Comboni missionary?” He said that a vocation is a mystery. “I always perceived from the Comboni Missionaries that I met in my parish in Bahry, an element of equality, no one considered themselves greater than the others, and this motivated me to join them. My dream is sharing the Word of God with people who haven’t had the opportunity. Reach out to those who have been abandoned or disowned, such slum dwellers. We must help these people overcome their abandonment, and confront those who try to isolate them from the rest of society. People need to realize that we are all one, even though we have different talents. Only the way we use them is different. People who think they are superior to others need to understand that God is behind their success.
“During these years – continues a missionary – I have learnt to live with people from different cultures, origins, and ideas. Their sacrifices have taught me a lot. When I think about Daniele Comboni, my heart is filled with his passion to bring the Word of God into the lives of those who have never heard it. He sacrificed a lot and took the place of others.
In Juba, Simon met Fr. Luigi Okot from South Sudan was the Comboni Province. He introduced Simon to Fr. They talked to us about vocations and gave us brochures about Comboni’s life. I was then admitted to the six-month postulancy in 2014. This was followed by a parish experience. I then moved from Nairobi to postulancy. I completed a three year philosophy course followed by a novitiate of two years in Namugongo, Uganda. After the novitiate, my assignment was to the Pietermaritzburg, South Africa scholasticate. I couldn’t visit my family – I haven’t seen them since 2018 – because Uganda was under Covid lockdown. While I waited, however, I decided to stay with the Comboni Community that aids the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. I returned to Juba when the borders opened and I entered the country before South Africa could close them once more. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 7/10/2022)

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