Eighty people made a four-day pilgrimage to Pan Nhom in East Yirol to pray for reconciliation, justice and peace in South Sudan and for the election of the new pope.
Pan Nhom is believed to be the location of Holy Cross mission where Daniel Comboni and five companions arrived in February 1858 and had to leave 11 months later defeated by death and illness.The pilgrims, youths from Yirol, Mapuorfit, Tali and Kajo Keji, some Comboni female and male missionaries, a priest from South Korea and a volunteer from Italy, on Tuesday and Wednesday visited five communities of Yirol Catholic parish, including a returnees’ camp, and prayed and interacted with the local people.
On Thursday, they tried to reach Pan Nhom on foot. Thirsty eight did after almost a six-hour walk through mud and water, including Fr Michael Barton. Forty one decided to celebrate the Eucharist in the last resting point before Pan Nhom and return because the time was short.
CRN had a reporter among the pilgrims who registered their opinions.
Barnabas Wol Col, a youth from Yirol parish, was among the 38 who reached Pan Nhom. He praised God for protecting and guiding the pilgrims since nobody had major problems despite of the difficult and long journey.
Bakhita Josephine Konga from Kajo Keji said she enjoyed the pilgrimage very much.
She added that she went home with a different idea about the Dinka people, because she found them kind and welcoming and not unfriendly.
Ms Konga said though life is difficult, God is with his people to help them to do his work like in the pilgrimage.
Francis Pio, a South Korean who is Agangrial’s parish priest for the last two years, said the pilgrimage was very hard and tough, like a retreat to refresh his missionary commitment.
He added that he felt encouraged to work harder in his parish.
The pilgrimage concluded on Friday, the birthday of St Daniel Comboni with a thanksgiving mass and the mood was great despite of two days of sleeping rough and a long and tiresome walk.
The participants praised especially the experience of care, kindness and solidarity they made during the four days together.
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