Claretian Fr Paul Smyth is the President of ‘Solidarity with South Sudan’. Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Seán-Patrick Lovett, he explains that the organization “was established little over ten years ago”. Fr Paul explains that after the civil war ended, the Bishops’ conference was looking for religious to support them “in rebuilding the church, and really, in rebuilding the nation”.
He says that some representatives from different congregations in Rome traveled to Sudan. There, they recognized that “one congregation alone” would not be able to commit themselves to help, but that through collaboration and working together “something could be done”. Fr Paul says that over the years around 400 congregations have been involved in different ways. “Some through funding, some through sending personnel”. We all committed to establishing programs and projects that would “help build a capacity in the people”, he adds.
He says that some representatives from different congregations in Rome traveled to Sudan. There, they recognized that “one congregation alone” would not be able to commit themselves to help, but that through collaboration and working together “something could be done”.
Fr Paul says that over the years around 400 congregations have been involved in different ways. “Some through funding, some through sending personnel”. We all committed to establishing programs and projects that would “help build a capacity in the people”, he adds.
Vatican News Department
