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BACKGROUND HISTORY OF THE PARISH
We arrived in
lare on 22 Dee 2001 the church was officially opened with a solemn
Eucharist presided over by the Apostolic Prefect of Gambella, Father
Angelo Moreschi.
Fr Jose Nicholas
Atehortua- a Fidei Donum Priest from Colombia-was appointed as the
first Parish Priest of Lare (now about to leave the parish and he will
be replaced by Fr Melchisedek Sanchez from colombia- a Member of
Yarumal missionaries); assisted by Brother Luis Alberto Hernandez from
Costa Rica-a member of the Yarumal Missionaries institute.
The church was
named after Blessed Daniel Comboni.
Previously, the
construction of the church and house buildings took great efforts and
years for Fr. Richard Baker, MM. and many local people, besides the
contractors. At the same time pastoral efforts were made to reach out
to the Nuer community.
LOCATION
The Catholic
Church of Lare is composed by three Woredas (Districts, so to speak):
Akobo, Makwey and Jikow Districts. Jikow is one of the nine districts
of Gambella Region, in itself composed by thirteen Kebeles
(Administrative Centers), in which Lare is the key point of
development, at 16 kilometers from Sudan border- followed by, Gok,
Thiajaak, Teluth, Nyon, Nip-nip and Mading.
Jikow District
has a Population of 55.926 people, over an extension of 272.749 Ha.
and is situated at 400 mts. above sea level in which the main crop is
Maize, Millet is also cultivated. The ethnic group present in the area
is the Nuer who are pastoralists and basically depend on Cows, sheep,
goats and Hens for their consumption and trading; we also find other
ethnic groups such as Anyuak and Highlander population, (who are the
minority).
Lare, was
established in 1995 when the permanent road towards Sudan Border,
reached the place. It has approximately 6000 people, served by a
Health Center, Primary and Secondary School, Woreda Administration
Center, one NGO, and 8 different churches.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Direct
Evangelization with the Nomads
From the first
moment of our contact with the community we focused on the following:
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Visiting the
different communities
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Efforts were
made to study the Nuer language and the culture of the people from
the very beginning even before we reach the place
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Attending the
other Christian denomination's meetings.
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Teaching the
catechumens,
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formation of
the catechists or co-operators,
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assisting the
different out-stations (at the moment there are five in Lare: Gok,
Thiajaak, Pilual, Mading, Yambure in Sudan border and six in Makwei
District: Wontow, thiajiak, Chatchara, Gier, Nyinenyang, Lolgunyang)
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The promotion
of Different ministries, the Pastoral Program with the Youth, the
Sunday School and the Pastoral program for the Women.
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to have more
conscience of the role of the laity in the church
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The Bible is
now into the hands of the People. Now they are not afraid of talking
about the Word of God and all get the skills on how to use the Bible
for teachings, advising, instructing others and personal and
community prayer
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A catechumenate
centered on the unity of the Church, and the Exercise of ministries
IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE CHURCH
On April 2002 the
first visiting to Makwei district. We gather with the community of
Gier to pray for peace and commemorate the death of Pastor Daniel Bol
Kor from the Covenant Christian denomination who was killed on 2nd
January 2002 after a peace talk meeting in Nyinenyang. Pastor Daniel
Bol Kor is considered the first martyr of the Nuer community.
On 29 Jan 2003 we
had the first training course for catechist in Lare parish with the
participation of 32 catechist from Makwei, Lare and Akobo districts.
On October 2003 A
lay Missionary from Kenya Miss Jean Juma joined us in Lare Parish and
started her pastoral work with the women and girls as well as the
youth.
On 22nd October
2003 we celebrated the 10% collection for the first time in the parish
as a result of awareness of the community on self reliant spirit that
was introduced in the church. Since then every year the community
contributes with money, livestock and other items to sustain the
parish pastoral work and activities including the promotion of some
income generating activities for the parish groups.
In the year 2004
one of our parish youth : Mr. Jacob Nhial Gatluak-the first vocation
for priesthood - joins the group of seminarians in our catholic
prefecture of Gambella.
In the year 2004
Fr Joseph Nicholas Atehortua leaves the parish of lare and hands over
the Mission to Fr Melchisedek Sanchez.
CHALLENGES
we are learning
how to carry out the Evangelization process in an environment of
conflict and violence; we have to put up the structure of a new
pastoral Method among the Pastoralist, for fighting within the clan
structure has taken place for many years, and we are not trained to
settle in such a situation
The pastoral
activity with the polygamist in our parish; they are so many and need
special attention.
The attention to
immigrants from Sudan is now our concern; so many refugees want to go
back to Sudan and Lare Parish is their way out.
The formation of
Parish Leaders and the conformation of the Parish pastoral council
that is now our great goal for 2005; We also intend to finalize the
first pastoral plan for the Parish at the end of this year.
Dialogue and
awareness of the social transformation provoked by our faith. |
