Memorial Mass for Rosa Sarracini Held at Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement
Arua Diocese -
A memorial Mass was held in honor of Madam Rosa Sarracini at the Sant'Egidio
School of Peace in Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement
, Adjumani in Arua Diocese. Rosa
served as the Partnership
Coordinator for the Sant'Egidio Mother Community in Rome to Uganda, playing a
key role in the development of the school and supporting the work of the Arua
Diocese and Sant'Egidio communities in Uganda.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rt. Rev. Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki,
who praised Rosa as a joyful, kind, and peace driven woman. He urged
the refugee community to emulate her values and continue the mission
of peace building that she had begun, as well as the promotion of
education.
"Today we celebrate the life of Rosa, a true messenger of peace. Let
us continue the work she began. Rosa was always joyful, kind, and
full of humor. We must reflect on whether we too are peace-makers.
This was her mission: to bring peace into our hearts, our homes,
and our nations." He noted.
Bishop Sabino reflected on the school's humble beginnings, recalling
how classes were once held under trees for refugee children from South
Sudan. With support from the Sant'Egidio community and Rosa's coordination,
the school has grown into a center of learning and hope.
"Before, we had P1 to P7 under different trees. When our brothers
and sisters from South Sudan first arrived in December 2013, they came
directly to Dzaipi Parish. They were desperate, fleeing the war in their
country but God led them here. I remember that night clearly. The parish
priest called me and said, 'We have many visitors from South Sudan. What
should I do?' I told him to contact the local chairman to coordinate with
government officials and UNHCR. The first registration was
done at Dzaipi Parish. God was at work ; He brought you into good hands.
From there, UNHCR took responsibility and established the settlement here.
The Church kept coming to offer different support. The first to reach out to
us, asking how they could help, was the Sant'Egidio community in Rome. I told
them there were so many children out of school, and they said, 'Yes! We can do
something.' That's how the school started, with a single big tree that still
stands on the compound today, serving as the first classroom. We had P1 to P7 under
the different trees on this compound. Rosa was later appointed as our coordinator to help this place grow
and with her support, all these developments happened through the help of the
Sant'Egidio community in Rome." Bishop remarked
Drawing from the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Bishop Sabino encouraged
the congregation to see God's hand at work even in the most difficult
circumstances:
"Isaiah tells us that from this mountain, God will wipe away every tear,
and prepare for us a feast. This refugee settlement, once barren and broken,
has become a mountain of hope where God feeds us not only with food, but with
His word and His love."Said the Bishop.
He called on the refugees to maximize the opportunities available in Uganda,
encouraging them to acquire knowledge that would one day help rebuild their
home country, South Sudan.
The Bishop thanked the local Sant'Egidio community, the Kampala team led by
Madam Dorothy, Dzaipi Parish clergy, and diocesan staff headed by Madam Lilian for their
continuous support and pastoral care. He reminded the faithful to be people of
hope and peace, especially during this Jubilee Year 2025, themed
"Pilgrims of Hope."
"This is a Jubilee Year, a year of hope. Let us be pilgrims of hope, people
of the Beatitudes, and witnesses of peace." Said the Bishop
