GOD CALLS US TO HEAL, HOPE AND BUILD OUR NATION

GOD CALLS US TO HEAL, HOPE AND BUILD OUR NATION ADVENT - CHRISTMAS – BAPTISM OF JESUS: 30 November 2014 – 11 January 2015 ADVENT IS A SEASON OF HOPE ...
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GOD CALLS US TO HEAL, HOPE AND BUILD OUR NATION ADVENT - CHRISTMAS – BAPTISM OF JESUS: 30 November 2014 – 11 January 2015

ADVENT IS A SEASON OF HOPE AND HEALING: The Spirit was powerful in Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zachariah, John the Baptist God desires to be powerful in us NOW. God desires to give us courage, hope and healing. God longs for us to be peace-makers. God invites us to accept the Prince of Peace daily. We focus on God’s desire and profound, intimate love for us and for all people. God strengthens us to make peace in practical ways in our homes and country. In God’s love and power, we build our nation, day by day, in our hearts, our homes, schools, hospitals, prisons, churches, armies. All of us must stand together with courage to respect the lives of every person. Now is the time to stop the war. Now is the time for healing. Now is the time to be faithful to the living God who loves all people, people of every tribe and tongue, race and religion. DO I BELIEVE THAT JESUS LIVES IN ME, WITH ME, NOW, TO HEAL, TO BRING PEACE? THAT HE BRINGS US HEALING, AND PEACE?

Then . . the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea. Isaiah 11: 6-9.

“They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4)

“WAR IS EVIL; WAR CANNOT BRING PEACE; THIS WAR MUST STOP” WEEK 1 SUNDAY, 30 NOVEMBER, 2014 “Yet, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.” Isaiah 64:8 We are sons and daughters in the one family of God, from different tribes and tongues, but all brothers and sisters. God calls us to live in peace and to serve one another as brothers and sisters. Fighting and killing each other destroy God’s family and separate us from God. God is giving us grace and peace during this Advent season. WITH MARY, WE BELIEVE GOD’S PROMISES. ACTIONS DURING THE FOUR WEEKS OF ADVENT: 1. BLESSING OUR FOOD DAILY Before we eat, we pray, “Bless us O Lord and these, your gifts, which we are about to receive, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.” After we eat, we thank God, “We give you thanks, almighty God, for these and all your gifts, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.” 2. PRAY THE ROSARY AND WEEKLY PRAYER HOUR FOR PEACE. 3. TAKE THE MESSAGE OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SOUTH SUDAN SERIOUSLY. TEACH THEIR MESSAGE TO OUR CHILDREN AND ALL OUR PEOPLE.

GOD ALWAYS LOVES US but when we hate and kill others, WE do not love God. God is angry when we destroy his people. But God our Father always takes us back because he loves us so much. ACTIONS: 1. Pope Francis: “Find time to sit quietly and let God look at you.” God looks at you with love. Look at yourself and at others with love. 2. Create radio broadcasts, even short ones about making peace. 3. Share the Word of God and do good works in Small Christian Communities. GOD’S FAITHFUL LOVE HELPS US TO BUILD OUR NATION WITH RESPECT FOR EVERY PERSON. SOUTH SUDAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS: We solemnly declare that the current war in South Sudan is evil. There is no moral justification for any further killing. We can accept no excuses nor conditions from any party or individual for the continuation of the war. The fighting and killing 2

must stop immediately and unconditionally.. . . . We declare before God that it is evil for any party to use continuing violence to try to further their political agenda. WEEK 2 SUNDAY, 7 DECEMBER, 2014 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to the people of South Sudan. Cry to them that their war is ended, their sin is pardoned. Isaiah 40: 1-2. God wants to comfort us, his South Sudanese people. God now cries for change of hearts. The valleys of hatred in our hearts need to be filled with love. The mountains of sin need to be leveled with reverence for God and the rough places should be made smooth with respect for human life and all the Earth. We lift up our voices in joy for the Lord himself is our shepherd. He carries us close to his heart. He feeds us and gently leads us. God himself longs to forgive. God waits eagerly for us to come to him. We call our leaders to stop fighting and to be true shepherds in South Sudan. Use resources and the national budget for food, security, education, health care, jobs and good roads. WE BUILD OUR NATION ON GOD’S FAITHFUL LOVE ACTIONS: 1. Each day, take quiet time, even while you walk, and pray gently, over and over again, “Peace within us. Peace around us.” OR “Jesus, Prince of Peace” Doing this quiets our minds and hearts so that we are more open to God and others. 2. Lead children, youth, adults to create songs for peace. 3. PARENTS BLESS YOUR CHILDREN

a. Traditionally, African parents bless their children by blowing in their ears as a sign of good listening, understanding and alertness. b. Another blessing: Parents spit saliva on children’s heads as a sign of peace, protection, love and prosperity. SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: TRIBALISM Traditionally, the peoples of South Sudan do not hate each other. While there have been tribal conflicts over issues such as cattle and land, there have also been traditional mechanisms to resolve those conflicts before they get out of control. Our peoples have inter-married, assisted each other during famines, moved freely around the country. . . . However ethnicity has now become a negative issue throughout our society. Large-scale ethnic killing has created a cycle of fear, hatred and revenge. Our politics is becoming ethnic, with perceptions from various communities that one tribe or other is favoured, or that one tribe or another is under-represented, or even that one tribe or another “deserves” to rule. Even within our churches, elements of tribalism are creeping in and creating suspicion, hindering our efforts to work for peace and reconciliation. This is not the way forward. We condemn tribalism and repeat our earlier call for “One People from every Tribe, Tongue and Nationality”. We are South Sudanese, and we call for the creation of a national identity which builds on but transcends our tribal roots and heritage. WEEK 3 SUNDAY, 14 DECEMBER, 2014 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because God has anointed me to bring good news to those who suffer. He sent me to heal those with broken hearts . . . and to proclaim the year of God’s favour. Isaiah 61: 1-2 ACTION: Every day, picture God healing you and making goodness and healing grow in South Sudan, just the way plants and 3

trees grow. Picture God healing all people of every tribe in South Sudan. Picture God’s light and healing in them and all around them. SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: CORRUPTION We condemn corruption and tribalism. We challenge all our political leaders, whether in government or opposition, and remind them that political leadership is about service to all the citizens of South Sudan, not about personal power and wealth nor favouring one community or other. We urge our people not to fall into the trap of supporting their own tribe rather than seeking the best qualified person for the position.

wars and massacres since 1955. We grieve as people with hope. We experience deep sadness and pain. God weeps with us and calls us to work courageously for peace with justice. We repeat often, “Jesus, Prince of Peace, heal us.” The war brings anger and grief. How do we deal with them? Many find some healing through crying. Sometimes we bury our tears deep in our hearts for a long time. There are many ways to cry. Tears may show that the outside and inside are the same. It is natural for women. men, and children to grieve. In fact, Jesus tells us, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.

MONDAY, DEC 15,2014 ONE YEAR OF PAIN SINCE THE WAR BEGAN The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face in South Sudan; the reproach of his people he will remove from the earth; for the Lord has spoken. Based on Isaiah 25:8 Thus says the Holy God of the Universe: O people of South Sudan, who dwell in Juba, Bor, Bentiu, Malakal, Leer, Mayoum, Renk, Akobo, Kodok, Yida, Maban, no more will you weep; God will be gracious to you when you cry out. As soon as God hears, God will answer you. Based on Is 30:18 Today marks the first anniversary of the outbreak of war within South Sudan. LET EVERY PARISH AND CHAPEL COME

TOGETHER TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE EUCHARIST/MASS. OR ANOTHER PRAYER SERVICE. We remember those who have died, more than we can even name. We also hold in our hearts all those who died in this war and the 4

UNHEALTHY WAYS TO CRY

HEALTHY WAYS TO CRY

rage, over-eating or drinking, smoking, beating someone, depression.

tears (as Jesus did) confiding in someone whom we trust, one who can help us to hold the pain and grief, not being destroyed by it or destroying others because of it.

USING THE GIFT OF ANGER HEALTHY WAYS We are UNHEALTHY WAYS Or we naturally angry when people can choose to use the energy kill others. Use the energy of of anger for hate, revenge and anger for good, to have harming others, or courage to listen longer, to depression. speak respectfully and to act for justice. A PENITENTIAL RITE

As we start, we use three stones to remember God our Father, the Son and Holy Spirit and build a wood fire on them as a symbol of the beginning of the conflict a year ago. At the end of Mass, all the congregation participates by pouring water on that fire, to remind us that we are all responsible for putting out the fire that began on December 15 of 2013.

ACTION: When there is a problem in the family, parents gather their children to ask their ancestors to intervene, give time to cool down, share forgiveness and sprinkle them with water as the sign of blessing and forgiveness. As we pour out our pain and grief, we gradually make space in our hearts to come to experience their new presence among us. They live with God. They are the living dead, our ancestors in faith, family and community, the communion of saints. SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: OUR CALL FOR PEACE We urge the parties to negotiate in good faith; we demand that the killing must stop. No doubt both sides will be required to compromise.

NOVENA PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: 16-24 DECEMBER, 2014 “Mary pondered all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:19, 51 POSSIBLE ACTIONS DURING THE NOVENA: 1. Create a peace pole. In South Sudanese languages: put the names of God at the top and peace at the bottom. 2.

Make a Peace Wall, writing on it the names or drawing pictures of those who have died. OR Write their names or draw their pictures on stones, making a memory garden or a path of life with them. 6

3.

4.

CLEAN our hearts, our homes, streets and community so that all can live in a good environment. We care for Earth, cleaning away the trash, paper, plastic bottles and cans. PRAY THE DAILY PRAYER: BEING AWARE OF HOW GOD IS WITH ME/US

One way to find wisdom and peace is a prayer called “awareness prayer.” We reflect on our experience. We ask what is happening in our hearts. We see its meaning for us in the light of God’s love. Take time daily to do it in your own way. DAILY PRAYER: HOW GOD IS WITH ME TODAY? 1. REMEMBER GOD’S LOVE for the entire earth community, all creation, including every person . . . and for you personally. 2. ASK to see yourself, your relationships, problems, hopes, love, talents, desires, sin, fears, all you are as God sees you, with light and love. God desires to give us friendship, love, life, healing, forgiveness and courage. 3. FOCUS on something that touches your heart, inspires or disturbs you, or on some feeling you have. RESPOND to God in your own way. (Possibly read Psalm 139). 4. RESPOND to God in your own way. (Possibly read Psalm 139). 7

GOD LOVES US, EVERYONE OF US, ALWAYS, NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE DONE. LET US TURN TO GOD AND LET GOD’S LOVE HEAL US. SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: We now believe that the people of our country are capable of determining the political future following the current conflict. In the longer-term process, the citizens of South Sudan must play a prominent role, represented by their traditional leaders, their faith communities, civil society and other actors. WEEK 4 SUNDAY, 21 DECEMBER, 2014 “Go, do all that is in your heart for the Lord is with you. . . I will plant my people they may dwell in their own land and be disturbed no more and violent people shall afflict them no more. I will give them rest from all their enemies.” 2 Samuel 7:1-16 Mary was a friend with her angel. Elizabeth knew the truth that Mary was blessed because she believed the promises made by God. Mary’s great faith and complete trust in God’s power fill her with joy. She sings that her whole being rejoices in God because God who is mighty has done great things for her. 8

In Luke’s gospel, Mary is the first disciple, the faithful disciple who ponders all that happens in her heart. She is filled with the Holy Spirit. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Don’t be afraid . . .The power of the Most High.” LK1: 26-38 South Sudanese, you are full of grace as Mary was. Let us open our hearts to God’s power and love. What gift do I want to give God this Christmas? Prepare it! What gift do I want Jesus to give me this Christmas?

CHRISTMAS We are God’s tukel, God’s home. God lives in us. So we carefully prepare our hearts, and our homes, each day inviting the Jesus the Prince of Peace to live among us and teach us the ways of peace. WE ARE GOD’S TUKEL, GOD’S HOME. AND GOD IS A GREAT TUKEL: WE MAKE OUR HOME IN GOD! A. Orobator SJ

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At Christmas every year, we remember in a special way that EMMANUEL, GOD, IS HERE WITH US ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE.

REJOICE! JESUS, PRINCE OF PEACE, IS WITH US. HOLY FAMILY and HOLY INNOCENTS, 28 DECEMBER 2014 “Whoever honours their father atones for sins and whoever glorifies their mother is like one lays up treasure.” Sirach 3:2 This feast challenges us to look at our family anew. It is time to rediscover the joy of sharing our experiences and meals together. ACTIONS: 1. Plan to go to Church as a family today. 2. Picture God blessing your family with peace today. Thank your husband or wife, and your children for something with love today. 3. Show our love for our children. As a community, we work to provide all girls and boys with food, schools, protection and health care. We encourage the National Assembly pass laws to ensure a bright future for our children. 10

Today we also remember the children who were killed: when Pharaoh ordered killing all the boys when Moses was tiny, when King Herod said to kill all the boys when Jesus was a baby, when Sudanese officials said kill all the boys of southern Sudan, during decades of wars and now the loss of our own children. When people kill children, we grieve and lament. Jesus cries with us and says, “Blessed are you who mourn and lament. You shall be comforted.” We use the energy from our anger for courage, courage to listen well and speak honestly, to help each other to heal, and to act together for just peace. SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: Just as we put our trust in the people during the People to People Peace Process, just as we trusted the people when we advocated for them to have the Right of Self-Determination to choose for themselves the political future of their country in a referendum in 2011, we now believe that the people of our country are capable of determining the political future following the current conflict. In the longer-term process, the citizens of South Sudan must play a prominent role, represented by their traditional leaders, their faith communities, civil society and other actors. WORLD PEACE DAY, MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, 1 JANUARY, 2015 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. 11

The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace. Numbers 6: 24 – 26.

POPPOPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE FOR WORLD PEACE DAY, "Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters" Many people think that slavery is a thing of the past. In fact, this social sickness remains too real in today’s world. Peace can exist only when each human being recognizes every other person as a brother or sister with the same dignity. Too many horrible forms of slavery are still present in today’s world: human trafficking, trade in migrants and prostitutes, exploitation, slave labour, and the enslavement of women and children. Acceptance of the dignity of every person requires us to act

everywhere to liberate and include everyone. Our purpose is to build a nation and world based on the equal dignity of every person without discrimination. To achieve this will also require the commitment of the media, of

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education and of culture to a renewed society pledged to freedom, justice and therefore peace. ACTIONS FOR MAKING PEACE: 1. In hope, with our children we plant a tree. Our tree is another sign of life, for a new beginning in South Sudan. 2. Remember an experience when someone helped you to find peace. How have you helped someone else to gain peace? God invites us to bring peace to others today. 3. When there is misunderstanding in families, elders come together to settle the issue. Then they sprinkle water over all as a sign of peace. 4. When there is misunderstanding at home, a misfortune or quarrel with a neighbouring tribe, elders come together to settle the case. They kill an animal and sprinkle the blood over all as the sign of peace. 5. Blood Relations To make peace when tribes conflict, the leaders call their tribes together for a celebration. The leaders cut their fingers and mix the blood with groundnuts. Each gives some to the other to eat as the sign that now they are no longer enemies but relations with one another. There will be no more shedding of blood among them. This act remains from generation to generation. 6. Reconciliation When conflict arises, women of the other side or village will offer or give a type of bead called Acihira to those in conflict as a sign of peace and reconciliation. GOD LOVES US, EVERYONE OF US, ALWAYS, NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE DONE. LET US TURN TO GOD AND LET GOD’S LOVE HEAL US.

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SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: As bishops, we state without hesitation or fear that the current conflict is evil and must be stopped immediately and unconditionally, regardless of any other considerations. We call on every political leader, every military officer, every individual soldier, every armed civilian, whether government or opposition, to avoid any further killing. It is immoral and evil. The question to ask ourselves is: do I have the sincere will to renounce violence, to compromise and to bring peace?

EPIPHANY, 4 JANUARY, 2015 “Peace is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or be afraid.” John 14:27 God is for all people, always and everywhere. On this feast of Epiphany, we remember that Jesus shows who God is and how God is with us. Wise people follow the star that rises in their hearts. It leads them to Jesus, to the God of love and peace. ACTION: Take time to reflect quietly, to notice the star (hope, desire, a decision) that rises in you. Talk with God about it. SS CATHOLIC BISHOPS: The Church is the Mother of all people from every ethnic group in the whole of South Sudan. We call upon all the people to embark on the path of reconciliation, healing and peace. We encourage our priests, religious and pastoral agents, our international partners, and the other churches and faith communities, to intensify their activities around these, to become more active peacemakers. Prayer is the only sure way to peace. Our dioceses and parishes must organize prayers for peace. Repent and do not sin any more! 14

“The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.” Matthew 2:13-14 Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.” Luke 2: 31

BAPTISM OF JESUS, 11 JANUARY, 2015

When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon him and a voice from heaven proclaimed, “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” Luke 3:22, Mt 3:17

ACTIONS: 15

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Picture God telling YOU that you are God’s beloved son or daughter. Listen to God carefully. God calls our entire community to listen to him, to create a community that includes all, that is built on God’s covenant of Peace with justice.

2. Today, tell each of your children, “You are God’s child and God loves you deeply. Listen to God in your heart. Listen to God in all the Earth. Listen to God in the community. Everywhere God loves you and invites you to know him.”

THIS BOOKLET WAS PREPARED BY SOUTH SUDAN DIOCESAN PASTORAL TEAMS AND SOLIDARITY WITH SOUTH SUDAN PASTORAL TEAM. IT WAS ENDORSED BY THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SS. Paintings are from the MAFA SERIES and by Sister Barbara, SSND, Solidarity with South Sudan

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