Eglise au Soudan du Sud Mourns Mort soudaine d'une religieuse missionnaire kenyane

Eglise au Soudan du Sud Mourns Mort soudaine d'une religieuse missionnaire kenyane

CANAA || Par le Père Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 11 juin 2018

Une femme de foi profonde, un grand apôtre, une mère pour tous, un grand chrétien humble, résilient en toutes circonstances, un humble serviteur de Dieu, attentionné et aimant, une grande perte pour nous tous, sûrement dans le ciel en priant pour nous... ce ne sont là qu'un petit échantillon de la façon dont Sr Marie Mumu, membre de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame de Charité du Bon Pasteur (OLCGS) est rappelée par plusieurs personnes qui l'ont connue.

Dans un message adressé à toute l'Association des Supérieurs Religieux du Soudan du Sud (RSASS), Sr Teresa Mogesi, MCESM, a déclaré : « Le diocèse catholique de Rumbek regrette d'annoncer la mort soudaine de notre chère Sr Mary Zipporah Mumu qui s'est produite hier à Nairobi Kenya. Elle a quitté Rumbek il y a une semaine pour son repos annuel et il n'y avait pas de plaintes pour la santé jusqu'à présent."

« Nous avons appris (sur) la mort de Sœur Mary Mumu vendredi avec choc et regret », a déclaré le père John Mathiang, coordonnateur du diocèse catholique de Rumbek (DOR), à la CANAA lundi 11 juin et a ajouté : « Sister est partie (Rumbek) pour Nairobi alors qu'elle n'était pas malade. »

Sr. Mumu a été déclaré mort à l'hôpital Karen de Nairobi, le jeudi soir, 7 juin, où elle a été précipitée après s'être effondrée dans ses locaux religieux à Langata, Nairobi.

Elle est retournée dans la maison communautaire après avoir passé la majeure partie de ce jeudi au centre-ville de Nairobi à acheter des articles pour le Centre de promotion des femmes de St. Monica, dans le diocèse de Rumbek, qu'elle a fondé il y a bien plus de 17 ans avec la mission d'habiliter les femmes sud-soudanaises.

Depuis la mort de l'évêque César Mazzolari du diocèse de Rumbek en juillet 2011, le clergé et le ministère religieux dans le vaste diocèse attendent encore un berger.

Sr. Florence Kisilu, chef provincial de l'OLCGS de la province de l'Afrique centrale orientale a déclaré à la CANAA lundi 11 juin que les arrangements funéraires ne sont pas encore finalisés et ne pouvaient pas dire quand et exactement où Sr. Mumu, dont le corps est actuellement à Nairobi, la maison funéraire Umash, va se reposer.

Pendant ce temps, ceux qui ont interagi avec S. Mumu ont exprimé un vibrant hommage à sa personne et à sa mission depuis que la nouvelle de sa transmission a été partagée.

"Je la connaissais depuis Kakuma quand j'étais danseuse d'alléluia," Sud Soudanais Veronica Ajok a commenté sur les médias sociaux, rappelant sa participation active lors de la célébration de la messe du dimanche au camp de réfugiés de Kakuma dans le nord du Kenya en 1999 où elle a rencontré Sr. Mumu.

« Depuis son arrivée à la paroisse Sainte-Famille dans le canton de Rumbek vers l'an 2000, Sr. Mumu a toujours eu une mission – autonomiser les femmes avec des compétences qui les aident à gagner un revenu », a déclaré le directeur de la radio Good News à Rumbek, Luka Gumwell, dimanche 10 juin.

Gumwell poursuit : « Au fil des ans, les veuves, les mères célibataires et plusieurs autres femmes marginalisées ont afflué au Centre des femmes de St. Monica pour acquérir des compétences dans la confection, la cuisson du pain, la fabrication de savon et les soins à domicile. Même avec très peu de connaissance de la langue dinka, Sr. Mumu s'efforçait de donner des leçons chaque jour aux femmes avant qu'elles puissent passer à toute autre activité. Beaucoup de femmes peuvent lire et écrire grâce à Sr. Mumu."

« Il est excitant et inspirant de voir les lépreux manipuler avec joie des machines à scier », a déclaré Gumwell en se référant aux différents centres établis par Sr. Mumu pour atteindre les femmes marginalisées.

"Avec la mort soudaine de Sr. Mumu, il est difficile de dire ce qui va devenir du Centre qui a changé la vie de plusieurs femmes dans le diocèse," Gumwell a dit et a continué à poser, "Qui sera assez patient pour écouter les femmes? Qui leur donnera de l'espoir?"

« J'ai entendu ce matin de Sr. Mumu, un grand chrétien humble », a déclaré le père Comboni Fernando Colombo, qui a servi comme administrateur diocésain de Rumbek après le décès de Mgr César Mazzolari en juillet 2011 à la CANAA le dimanche 10 juin et a ajouté : « Elle est sûrement au ciel en train de prier pour nous. »

More people who have worked closely with Sr. Mumu in South Sudan have also recalled her unique personality and focus on things that matter.

“I have never met a woman strong like her, lovingly dedicated to her mission and courageously determined to bring it ahead notwithstanding all obstacles and at times lack of appreciation she may have encountered on her way,” Ernst Ulz who is currently project and youth Coordinator of Focolare Movement in Eastern Africa stated in a letter addressed to Rumbek diocesan administration and staff.

“An image will remain always impressed in my memory: Sr. Mumu – very short in stature – surrounded by two dozens of very tall South Sudanese women who loved and respected her as and more than themselves, because Sr. Mumu loved them as and more than herself,” Ulz recalled.

“She never gave up, even if projects failed, but invented new ideas, new approaches in order not to have to abandon the women entrusted to her,” Ulz continued, adding, “It was always a pleasure for me to work with her and I thank God that he allowed me to support a bit her work for St. Monica’s Women’s Group, which I deeply admired.”

Relating the timing of Sr. Mumu’s death on the eve of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is followed by the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to God’s plans for His chosen ones, Jesuit Brother Herbert Liebl said, “what more beautiful day can the Lord have chosen for this Apostle for South Sudan … as she reached the heavenly home.”

“I am most happy to have met Sr. Mary Mumu, Br. Liebl said and added, “we have an advocate for us now in heaven.”

“It is our faith that God has called her to stay now with him near his heart as his beloved spouse and to harvest in abundance the fruits of her tireless work. From there she will continue supporting the Diocese of Rumbek with her intercession, more than we may be able to imagine,” Ulz of Focolare concluded in his letter to Rumbek diocese administration and staff.

Sr. Mumu is originally from the Catholic diocese of Meru in Kenya.

Below is the tribute from Sr. Orla Treacy, Principal of Loreto Girls’ Secondary School in Rumbek. Further below are sampled reactions from social media.

Sr. Orla Treacy, IBVM on Sr. Mary Mumu, OLCGS

She was the mother to all – the women, girls and to us as Religious in the diocese. She was the longest serving sister and she was the one to welcome us all over the years – we all started life with her in her home until we were ready to move into our own community homes – The Evangelising Sisters, Missionaries of Charity and Loreto.

When Loreto first came to Rumbek in 2005 Sr Mary became firm friends with our leadership team and when we arrived she continued to reach out to us to act as and a mentor and a role model for us all. She enjoyed a good laugh and despite the many challenges she always had time to sit and listen. She believed so much in fighting for justice and in standing for women in the face of injustice, counselling them, challenging, training them and loving them.

She never gave up despite and the many challenges she faced. She was a woman of deep faith and when things were tough and they often were she turned her mind and heart to Jesus. She saw the face of the suffering Christ in her women each day but she believed in hope and the dream of better days for her women.

Since the start of our Loreto school ten years ago Mary has worked quietly in the background supporting us – she has been a member of our board of management, helping us to establish practices and policies which support the girl child and ensuring the poorest were always welcomed. She set up a tailoring school with her women and they provided uniforms for many of the Schools in the Diocese. She believed in teaching her women to be independent and not dependent.

She is a big loss to us all in the Diocese of Rumbek. May she rest in Peace. And may we continue the work she was so committed to in caring for the women.

Reactions on Facebook following Sr. Mary Mumu’s Demise

Kathleen MacLennan: Shocking news the passing of this wonderful Sister – may she now rest in peace and have a great reunion with Bishop Caesar Mazzolari!

Peter Mamer De Makoy: Unbelievable! How could it be, I just met her the other day I was in Rumbek. Death is so cruel, R.I.P Mama Mumu, whole D.O.R will miss you.

Fr. John Waweru (Rumbek): Sr. Mary Zippora Mumu was on 12th May 2018 for a day with women group in our area. May her Soul rest in peace. I personally will miss her.

Mark Simuyu Barasa: I am a beneficiary of her great generosity. When I arrived in Rumbek for the first time in Sep 2005, and with nowhere to go, she helped me settle in as I waited for my employer. I had travelled from Yei to Rumbek on land (…no roads by then) a journey that took me some 3 weeks. Upon arriving Rumbek, I missed my employer and my instincts told me to find sanctuary at DOR and she is the first person I met! After sharing my ordeal, she gracefully gave me accommodation and food for a week as I connected with my employer. I last met her in Oct 2014 when I visited her house in Rumbek where she facilitated exchanging SSP for Kenya shillings. Fare thee well Sr. Mary Ziporrah.

Wani Robinson Odong: May the good Lord forgive her earthly inequities and grants her eternal rest. Diocese of Rumbek, especially women group will surely miss her. Resilient in all odds, a humble servant of God, caring and loving. May her soul find peace.

Ernst Ulz (Focolare): A hero has gone to heaven – she has spent two decades of her life to lift up women of Rumbek South Sudan.

Luka Ellen Gumwell : Sr. Mumu has inspired lives of many women in D.O.R and will be missed. May the Lord give her the crown of life for she has run the race.

Kocdedhie Thomas Makuek: Sr. Mumu had been very instrumental in bringing up women of Catholic Diocese of Rumbek for many years, she will be dearly missed by all faithful of DOR! May her soul rest in peace.

Lilian Angalika: Oh no no what happened to her … she was a wonderful sister…all my life in Rumbek I have known her as a faithful soul… RIP SR Mumo.

Titus O. Pacho: My heartfelt condolences, I worked with Sr. in Rumbek in 2009/10. May her soul rest in peace.

Agal Pa Ocitti: What a sad news to hear Wada? my condolence to DOR family, her Congregation and her own family and may God grant her eternal rest.