Missionary Methodology in Southern Sudan 1955-1999
Date
2001-02-07
Authors
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
I became interested to write about missionary methodology in Southern Sudan in
these past years of my theological studies here in Tangaza College. The mission studies
gave me ground to tackle this research work. The Comboni missionaries working in
Southern Sudan annually attend their general assembly here in Nairobi due do the
instability of the place and usually I have the opportunity to attend. Their sharing in the
assemblies moved me personally and I questioned myself of the methodology they applied
in this difficult moment.
One particular thing that caught my attention was in the general assemble of 2000
when they were reflecting on how people should not look at them as one of the many Non
Governmental Organisations working in Southern Sudan. Indeed, there is a danger here
because the missionaries are also involved in human promotion and in this situation of
war, the people can easily look at the foreign missionaries as providers of food, clothing
and so on. On the other hand the missionaries can easily forget the proclamation of the
Gospel.
In the first chapter, I have dealt with the geography and the history of the country of
The Sudan. Here I considered the political situation, the ethnic groups, the religious
affiliations and the actual standard of living in Southern Sudan. These give us somehow a
clear picture of what is happening really in Southern Sudan.
In the second chapter, I looked at the Missionaries who have been working there.
These missionaries are mainly the Comboni missionaries, the Mill Hill missionaries, the
Society of Jesus and the Salesians of Don Bosco. There are other missionaries certainly
working in Southern Sudan, but I limited myself to the main Catholic Missionaries
working there.
In chapter three of this research work, I dealt with the missionary activities and
methodologies being followed so far in Southern Sudan. It is not what they failed to do or what they are supposed to do. Here I dealt with the proclamation of the Gospel, human
promotion, language study, formation of agents of evangelisation and Catechemenate.
In the last chapter I considered the theological reflection and I gave practical
suggestions of Church activities and methodologies based on the reflections of the Sudan
Catholic Bishops Conference.
In this research work I did not limit myself to 1955-1999 but I went backward to
some past years to trace the earlier missionary activities and methodologies to give
meanings and basis to missionary activities and methodologies from 1955-1999.
Description
Keywords
Missionary, Southern Sudan, Catholic Church in Southern Sudan