Katire and Narnia

It was a real joy for us to be back in Katire, and the people seemed to be happy, too. John, the catechist, has done a great job at organizing and forming the community. Things are always well prepared for Mass. He also serves as translator when necessary, as in the video above in which he translates my words into the distinctive version of Arabic spoken among the different tribes of South Sudan.

Watching the documentary on the life of local hero, Fr. Saturnino Ohure.

In addition to being able to borrow our old car, we were also able to borrow the television we formerly had to show videos outdoors in settings like Katire. After Mass we showed the new short videos on Fr. Saturnino Ohure and Torit catechist, Gabriel, produced by our Polish film crew friends for Catholic Radio and Television with support of Aid to the Church in Need. The second short film had some scenes of Gabriel teaching in Katire, something that really delighted the congregation. These were followed by a longer 3D animated film on the Ten Commandments. Alice, one of our youth who accompanied us, translated that video into Arabic as people watched.

This little girl wasn't too interested in the video,
but she was still pretty cute.

I have to admit that I was pretty delighted, too, to be able to show these inspirational films both in Katire, and later that day at Mercy House in Torit. There we showed the third film in The Chronicles of Naria series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to a packed house. I remember the sense of wonder that I had as a child reading those books by C. S. Lewis, and it's renewed in me when I see the wonder on the faces of these children as they watch stories from the Bible, or the lives of the saints, or other works of Christian literature come to life before their eyes. Our  hope is that it will open their hearts in wonder to the greatest and most beautiful Mystery: God Himself.

Children captivated by the Chronicles of Narnia at Mercy House.