Third World Connections
Finally, ROTA has reached out into Africa itself in order to assist with particular needs. Building a supportive relationship with the St. Charles Lwanga/Butende Technical Institute (BTI) – a vocational training school for young adult students often times orphaned by the tragedy of AIDS in their families. Through this relationship we were able to accomplish the “Share The Well” and “Evarist House” projects. Currently we are engaged in the Koiyom Clinic Building project. May God continue to give success to the work of our hands.
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Koiyom Medical Clinic Groundbreaking
Click on the above image to donate to the Koiyom Clinic.
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Lost Boy of Sudan in Buffalo
A SPECIAL WELCOME TO
ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
On Sunday, December 6th, 2009, Gregory Kay and Robert Ludwig, standing at the left and right of Fidele respectively, represented the outreach ministry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in the presentation of a check for $6,000 to Fidele Diing Dhan and some members of the ROTA Board. The money is to be dedicated for a fresh water well at the clinic site. This comes at a vary advantageous time in that the dry season has just begun and any building project will require plenty of water; not to mention the tremendous need of additional sources of fresh water for the people of the Village. Many thanks to our new friends at St. Paul Cathedral. May God truly bring to completion the fine work that He has begun through your gift.
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Fidele visits Frontier Middle School Supporters
This past December, Christine Sullivan and “Buffalo For Africa” invited us to have a table at their school district’s “Family Fun Days.” Our Executive Director, Mrs. Joan Ersing was out early with a full display table and plenty of our materials to share our mission. “Lost Boy” Fidele Diing Dhan and Fr. Ron made an appearance later. The young people had collected a large quantity of household goods and gifts that we would be able to share with area refugee families. Many thanks to all our young supporters in the Hamburg and Frontier School Systems.
WE’VE MADE IT ONTO THE WALL
AT ANCHOR BAR
This past spring, freelance writer, Charlotte Hsu wrote an article entitled “Lost and Found Sudanese ‘Lost Boy’ and East Side Priest Forge Unlikely Friendship.” The article was picked up by ART VOICE and became the cover story of the August 27th, 2009 edition. We received so much positive feedback from it that when Fidele and Fr. Ron visited Anchor Bar in Buffalo for some Buffalo Wings, executive chief and host, Ivano Toscani saw them, he grabbed a copy of the Art Voice paper and had Fidele and Fr. Ron sign the article so he could put it up on the wall. If you are ever looking for it, it’s on the left side wall in the hallway going toward the kitchen just after the ladies’ room. Thanks Ivano! You’re the greatest! Pictured above is Ivano Toscani pointing to the mounted article along with Fidele Dhan on left and new “Lost Boy” in Buffalo, Mathon Noi.
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Father Sajdak helps break ground forAfrican clinic
By Patrick J. Buechi
Staff Reporter, Western New York Catholic Newspaper
This article appeared in the July 2009 Issue of the WNY Catholic
For some it was a beginning. For others an ending. For Father Ronald Sajdak and Fidele Diing Dhan breaking ground for a medical clinic in Sudan was just another step in a long and winding journey.
The day after Easter, Father Sajdak, pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Buffalo, and Dhan, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, began the next step in a now two-year project by the St. Martin de Porres Parish-based organization Reaching Out 2 Africa to build a medical clinic in Koiyom, Sudan, to combat cholera, tuberculosis and AIDS. One-third of the estimated $95,000 building cost was raised in the Diocese of Buffalo through the efforts of a group of 50 teenagers who engineered the Pickle Jar Project. By collecting money and holding benefits, the teens raised $35,000.
On April 19, Father Sajdak and Dhan traveled to Sudan to officially break ground for the clinic. Their faces were welcome sights as the plans for the facility were coming slower than the people of Koiyom expected.
“They were so thrilled someone from America came,” Father Sajdak said. Last year Dhan brought their plans to the village elders, who were hesitant to believe him as things were taking such a long time. “They were questioning if this was just an idea he wanted to have or if it is true that this is going to happen. They said in their speeches, ‘Father, now that we have met you, you have come so far into a place you do not know in order to give us assurance that Fidele is not alone, that the people of the Church of Buffalo are working with him to make this happen, we feel a great degree of peace.’”
The building of the clinic will be a three-phase project to begin at the end of Sudan’s rainy season, around November. Phase one will be the building of two wells, one for the village and one for the clinic itself.
“This trip made us realize that there are a number of things that need to happen. Number one – clean water in the village and clean water at the clinic site,” Father Sajdak said. “Clean water will eliminate a lot of medical problems even before a clinic is built.”
Phase 2 will be the construction of the clinic itself. Father Sajdak received some critiques on clinic models from representatives of the Health Training Institute of Wau, necessitating a redesign of the clinic building plans. The clinic will house examination rooms, a pharmacy, a labor and delivery room, and possibly an isolation unit. A kitchen area will be built as a separate building since cooking takes place on an open flame.
Phase 3 would be a dormitory space to temporarily house patients who cannot leave the clinic immediately.
“Transportation is not like here,” Father Sajdak said. “You do not leave the doctor and go home. If you live in Koiyom, that’s fine, but Koiyom is not the only village there. Once there is medical assistance, people will come from all these surrounding villages, and they will walk for two days to get help. You can’t just send them home walking two days back.”
Father Sajdak told the eight-member committee that will oversee the clinic, about the desires of the young people of Buffalo to name the clinic, or part, in honor of the late Father Gary Bagley and the late Sister Karen Klimczak, SSJ, both of whom shaped and affected the youth in Buffalo.
“They said absolutely; anything they want, they get.”
Ground breaking joins Africa with U.S.
Koiyom is a small village in southern Sudan. It is the former home of Dhan, who fled during a civil war between northern and southern Sudan over mineral rights. Dhan supports 15 members of his family who are still in Africa. The village does not have a church, but catechists teach the faith every Sunday in a gathering space. The villagers see a priest only once every six months. They were surprised to see Father Sajdak use holy water to bless the ground where the clinic will rest since that is a task typically done by a local elder, called a spear master.
The groundbreaking turned out to be much different than those usually seen in the States as well. Father Sajdak first tried to crack the arid soil with a heavy garden hoe.
“That thing nearly hit me in the face. It bounced right off the ground. The ground was solid as a rock. So the groundbreaking turned into a ground scraping,” he said.
The chief of the village joined, as did a guest chief from a nearby village, and Dhan, then Gabriel Dut Deng, head of the committee for the clinic, followed. Deng gathered all the ground scrapers, had them all hold the hoe and scrape together as a show of unity.
Although half a world away, the teens who helped fund the clinic were not so far from the thoughts of Father Sajdak.
“Before I left I was with the Young Christians at Work again for a penance service. Patty Bubar Spear mentioned that I was going to Africa, and they prayed over me asking God’s blessing of safety in travel,” Father Sajdak said. “Michael Powell, who had been with the Pickle Jar Project since the clinic fundraising began, said, ‘Don’t leave until I see you.’ And then he disappeared. He came back with a Dixie cup of dirt from South Buffalo, and said, ‘Take this with you, and when you do the groundbreaking, let the people know that this came from Buffalo, New York, and mix the ground together as a symbol that we are doing this together.’
“So, when we got done with the ground scraping, I had my soil from Buffalo. I explained to the people about the young people of Buffalo, how they are the ones who are fueling the operation of this clinic, and took the ball and ran with it for two years. Then we mixed the dirt with the ground from Sudan. Fidele said to me, ‘Aren’t you going to take any dirt back with you?’ So I scooped up some of the sandy soil and put it into the Ziploc bag to take back with us.”
While Dhan spent time with his family, Father Sajdak stayed four days in Juba with Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro, whom he told of the exchange of dirt. The archbishop took Father Sajdak into the church and showed him jars of dirt under the altar, each one from a village he was unable to visit due to threats on his life. They are placed under the altar so that when he prays over the Eucharist, he also prays over the soil, uniting the villages in their suffering.
“Who would have thought that this young person from Buffalo at Young Christians at Work would have this idea and forethought to get soil from Buffalo to join?” Father Sajdak asked.
A similar blending ceremony took place in Buffalo on June 7 (see story on page 21).
Trip filled with unexpected meetings
“Every step of our journey was filled with insecurity,” Father Sajdak said, still amazed by what he had accomplished.
Father Sajdak and Dhan were unable to meet with Bishop Rudolph Deng Majak of Wau early in the trip as planned. While in Wau waiting for a plane to Juba, they met a man who coordinates the work of Western countries in Sudan. He introduced them to a well driller who gave them all the specifications needed for the wells.
“We were thrilled because we needed to know this information. If he had been able to fly out to Juba, we never would have met this man. What seemed like a setback turned out to be a blessing,” Father Sajdak said.
They also met Camboni Brothers who are the development director and business manager for the Diocese of Wau. They met a sister who is working with at the Health Training Institute in Wau. A group of nuns set up camp there and offer a four-year medical program. Upon graduation students will be the equivalent to a nurse practitioner. They will diagnose problems, write and fill prescriptions, do minor surgery and run the clinic.
He also met a sister who was the head of the first Catholic radio station in Sudan, Bakhita Radio, and was a guest on her show.
“Miracles every step of the way. When doors seemed to close, doors opened for us,” Father Sajdak said.
It reminded him of Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are not your thoughts nor are my ways your ways, says the Lord.”
“I preach about that often. When I went to Sudan I had a list of questions that I had to ask Bishop Deng Majak. I had a list of questions that I had asked public officials about health care insurance plans, all these things that my committee had in mind that I should ask. And I had in my mind what would happen step after step after step.
“When I got there, all that went out the window. I watched it unravel in front of me, but every time one of those pages unraveled in front of me, other doors opened, and we met the important people we needed to meet. We met a person in charge of health care for the government who told me their hospitals have no medicine. Their government staff is not trained. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
Father Sajdak did meet Bishop Deng Majak at the end of the trip. They discussed business, and he received the bishop’s assurance and support.
“That was the main thing because this is happening in his diocese,” Father Sajdak said.
Father Sajdak met people who gave great hope to the people of Koiyom.
“Was our trip as successful as I wanted it to be? I don’t think I accomplished what I wanted to happen. Was our trip as successful as God wanted it to be? Absolutely. From the ground scraping, to the rainfall, to the gift cane, to the people we met along the way.”
The future of Sudan
Both Northern and Southern Sudan signed a peace agreement in 2005, and now have a unified government. The president of the North is the president of the country, while the president of the South serves as vice president.
“It’s a stable yet unstable environment. It’s coerced peace right now,” Father Sajdak explained.
In 2011, all people in Sudan will be able to vote whether to stay unified or separate.
“That is a crucial vote. You have the north that doesn’t want the south to secede. You have the south that does want to secede. And you have the people in unified government and a new political party that is promoting a unified Sudan.”
Father Sajdak is not taking sides.
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Blending of soil serves
as symbol of community
By Patrick J. Buechi
Staff Reporter, Western New York Catholic Newspaper
This article appeared in the July 2009 Issue of the WNY Catholic
African and American earth merged once again during a special Mass on Sunday, June 7, at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Buffalo. The Mass celebrated the culmination of two years of effort put forth from a group of 50 teens who call it the Pickle Jar Project.
The teens have dedicated their time to raising $35,000 for the outreach organization Reaching Out 2 Africa to build a clinic in Koiyom, Sudan.
“I know that your faith is what brought you to doing what you’ve been doing over the past two years, and we not only applaud you for that, we thank God for your ambition, your drive, your energy,” said Joan Ersing, pastoral associate for St. Martin’s and executive director of Reaching Out 2 Africa. “You’ve been a model for all of us, all the adults who have worked with you, behind you, trying to catch up with you. We are delighted to be able to come right on the table of the Lord, give Him the praise and the glory that this project deserves.”
During his homily, which took place on Trinity Sunday, Father Ronald Sajdak, pastor, spoke of bringing a cup of dirt from Harvest House in South Buffalo to blend with the Sudanese earth during the ground breaking ceremony in Koiyom.
Mixing the soil was the idea of Michael Powell, one of the driving forces behind the Pickle Jar Project.
“I felt like we needed to have a physical spirit of community,” said Powell, 18, of St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Olean. “We were working with Father Ron and Fidele (Diing Dhan); that was a spiritual and also emotional connection we had. I felt we needed to give them something that had a physical connection.”
At the suggestion of Dhan, who accompanied Father Sajdak to Sudan, they brought soil back from Sudan to share with the people of the Diocese of Buffalo.
At the Mass, dirt from the parishes of the team members was mixed and blessed by Father Sajdak, along with the dirt from Sudan. Everyone present took back a cup to their parish.
Powell’s dirt will go back to St. Mary’s to be used for the parish’s Cemetery of Innocence.
“I’m going to mix it in with the dirt that’s right in there as a pro-life stand, but also in solidarity as a pro-life movement with the walk for the Lost Boys,” he said.
Anna Hoffman, a high school senior when the project began, now attends Niagara University. She has remained involved by maintaining the group’s Web site thepicklejarproject.org.
“I have been keeping in touch with people through Facebook and the Web site,” Hoffman said. “I was actually on retreat when they met the goal. They called me and I couldn’t hear a word they said because they were screaming. I was so excited. I shared it with everyone at my college.”
Hoffman said she will try to get her college to help further fund the clinic by joining the Golden Shovel Campaign, which recognized donors of $1,000.
“The Pickle Jar Project has reached the goal, but now the Pickle Jar Project becomes an example for college-aged students,” she said.
Many of the originators of the Pickle Jar Project will be going away to college this fall, but that doesn’t spell out the end. There are plans to keep the project alive with a more local goal and be run by a new group of teens.
The Diocese of Buffalo has not heard the last of the Pickle Jar Project. “Not by a long shot,” said Powell.
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Fr. Ron Sajdak & Fidele Diing Dhan
Fr. Ron Sajdak, Pastor of St. Martin de Porres and Director of ROTA: Reaching Out To Africa along with “Lost Boy of Sudan” Fidele Diing Dhan, pause for a brief photo after giving a presentation on ROTA’s new mission initiative: the building of the Koiyom Medical Clinic in Southern Sudan at a Sunday Lenten Soup Supper sponsored by the Justice Committee of St. John the Baptist Church in Lockport, NY. Fr. Ron and Fidele leave from USA to Southern Sudan on Easter Monday, April 13th in order to meet with local Bishops, village elders, and project directors to begin ground breaking initiatives in order to bring the new medical clinic, a dream come true for Fidele Diing Dhan into reality. In their travels they will meet with his lordship Paolino Lukudu Loro, Archbishop of Juba and his lordship Rudolf Deng Majak, Bishop of Wau. They will be carrying “over the counter” medicines to assist the people while they continue to wait for the clinic to become a reality. The meetings with Village Chiefs and Elders, as well as the Bishop of Wau, Rudolf Deng Majak will focus upon how the current situation with the president of Sudan and NGOs, Non-Government-Organizations may affect our project’s progress. Additional business items include procedures to follow concerning phase one: Brick and Mortar building; phase two: equipping the clinic; and third phase: staffing and continued support for the clinic’s viability. May St. Josephine Bakhita, Patron of Sudan, pray for us…….
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Spare change creates big change for teens seeking to fund
African clinic
By Patrick J. Buechi
Western New York Catholic Reporter
With a drumroll the crew of the Pickle Jar Project announced their final tally of $35,239 collected for the building of a wing of the Koiyom Clinic in Southern Sudan. The project has been a nearly two-year effort involving 52 teenagers and a lot of spare change.
“We built this clinic on pennies and pizza,” said Patty Bubar Spear, former assistant director of the Diocesan Youth Department, who taught the teens about sacrificial giving during the Young Christians at Work service program held during Holy Week of 2007.
The teens heard they reached their goal at a monthly meeting held in Harvest House in Buffalo. The news set off a round of cheers and applause.
After hearing the good news Dan Hartley, 17, from Holy Trinity Parish in Middleport and Medina, could only speak in half sentences.
“It’s an amazing; Oh my; I can’t even describe,” he said. “Once the Pickle Jar Project was underway that was my underlying goal that really kept me going through all the hard times and stuff, just knowing we were going to reach that someday. There was such anticipation for this. It’s so gratifying knowing we are going to help all those people in Sudan.”
“I’m shocked,” said Michael Powell, 18, from St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Olean. “I knew all along that we were going to get it. I truly believed it, but, actually sitting here looking at the board, looking at the money we collected – words can’t describe it. I’m overwhelmed. It’s such a feeling of pride, a feeling of accomplishment. It’s great.”
“I am really energetic right now. I can’t really hold much in,” said Joe Fagan, 18, from Holy Trinity Parish in Middleport and Medina.
It was during the Young Christians program that the teens heard of the need for a clinic in Sudan and set about funding one. Inspired by a story they heard about a father who collects his spare change in a pickle jar to pay for his son’s college education, the teens began their own Pickle Jar Project. Their goal was to raise $35,000 by September of 2008. The deadline was extended to December of that year, then extended again until Jan. 30, when they met their goal. The crew was determined to reach their goal no matter how long it took.
“I struggled with it,” said Powell. “I knew going into last fall it was real difficult, but I was pulling to get it done. I sat down and thought about it after we moved it back. I said it’s not about the when, it’s about the why, why we’re doing it. No matter when we get it done, it is going to do an awful lot of good.”
The crew acts as a youth branch of Reaching Out 2 Africa, a parish-run charity based in St. Martin de Porres Parish in Buffalo that offers humanitarian assistance, American companionship, friendship and advocacy for African refugees. Father Ronald Sajdak, pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Buffalo and director of Reaching Out 2 Africa, inspired the teens by telling them the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. One of those very Lost Boys, Fidele Diing Dhan, described the need for a clinic in his homeland. Cholera and tuberculosis outbreaks are common in Koiyom. The nearest hospital is at least 60 miles away. People often travel by foot.
“The idea of building a clinic in that particular area, Koiyom, will help children who are afflicted with so many different diseases,” said Father Sajdak. “It will help with AIDS treatment, cholera and TB primarily. That’s our hope.”
The teens collected money in pickle jars kept at home, church and their places of employment. Some of the money came from varied places such as confirmation classes, Williamsville South High School’s annual “Tunes for Charity” concert, and a couple birthday parties.
Kevin Burdick, 17, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Lake View, decided to forgo birthday gifts from his friends and instead asked for money to be donated to the cause.
“Seeing as I really could not use any more items to clutter up my house, I might as well put the party for something higher than myself,” he said. “Since I heard the Pickle Jar Project was up and about and in need of money, I figured I might as well do the party for the Pickle Jar Project.” He raised $137.67.
A walkathon held last summer netted $2,000. The event will long be remembered for its near cancellation due to a lightening storm. But over 100 participants remained huddled under a shelter in Lockport until the storm passed so they could walk, much like the Lost Boys did through Africa.
Events like these allowed the teens to take on leadership roles.
“I’ve become more of a leader myself,” said Hartley, who organized the walkathon. “ I also learned to respect life and everybody, respect every single person for who they are and what they represent; that they were created in the image of God. I’ve also learned that a group of special people can really come together and create such an amazing thing that is almost like a miracle.”
There was even personal sacrifice from members of the crew. Fagan had saved some money for a Nintendo Wii game console. “After this whole idea sprung out I looked back and thought, I don’t need that. So I took the $450 I had put aside and gave it to the pickle jar because I felt I needed to do something that I don’t normally do,” he said, adding that games and such will always be there in the future. Fagan has also focused more on his spiritual side over the past 18 months and tried to focus on his future. He said the project has helped him learn about himself.
“I have learned so many life lessons through this whole experience,” he said.
The teens weren’t the only ones excited. Father Sajdak was surprised at the optimism and enthusiasm the teens displayed since the beginning of the project.
“I am thrilled beyond belief, I really am,” said Father Sajdak. At first they wanted to fund the whole clinic, which is expected to cost $95,000. Father Sajdak suggested the more realistic goal of one-third the brick and mortar cost. “Now I stand back and say, why didn’t I let them take the whole thing,” he said.
The Pickle Jar Project crew is currently planning a gathering to coincide with the clinic’s April groundbreaking. The pediatric wing, which the project is funding, will be dedicated to Father Gary Bagley, former Youth Department director, and Sister Karen Klimczak, SSJ, a local advocate of nonviolence. Both passed away in 2006.
Reprinted from the Western New York Catholic newspaper March 2009.
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Koiyom Clinic
A Sense of Urgency – April 2009
One Sudanese African Parishioner came to Fr. Ron recently to request prayers for his family for his 12 year old niece died suddenly near the village of Koiyom. “She was spiting up blood” he said. “There is no hospital there and the clinic we’re all hoping for is not yet a reality.” During the end of the most recent rainy season, many in the area of Koiyom were affected as a cholera epidemic spread. Calls were made to Fidele Dhan, “Lost Boy of Sudan” and Koiyom clinic project coordinator. “When is the clinic coming” they would plead with Fidele. “We continue to die here…….please help if you can.”
The Golden Shovel $75,000 Campaign
This sense of urgency along with the need to support the young people of the Diocese of Buffalo who have been the sole driving force behind fundraising for the clinic entitled “The Pickle Jar Project” prompts us, during this holiday season, to launch a new initiative in order to reach our goal for the brick and mortar costs of building the medical clinic in Koiyom. We are calling it the “Golden Shovel Award!” Any individual, group of individuals, churches and/or organizations that would be so kind as to donate a $1,000 gift will be named a Golden Shovel Recipient. The goal is $75,000. We need 75 one thousand dollar gifts. Seventy five Golden Shovels will be awarded after ground breaking occurs. These funds along with the fantastic commitment of the youth of the Diocese of Buffalo through their “Pickle Jar Project” will enable us to move forward post haste. We are approaching the holiday time. Indeed we have much to be grateful for this year during Thanksgiving. Indeed we need to re-evaluate our “Gift Giving” at Christmas. Maybe someone would like a Golden Shovel as a gift; knowing that the donation made in their or their family’s name will have an enormous impact half way around the world. Consider organizing your group. If Fidele Diing Dhan, Mrs. Joan Ersing, or Fr. Ron can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact us.
The “Pickle Jar” Miracle
Just when we thought we had finished out work with the Evarist House Dormitory project, Lost Boy Fidele Diing came to us with the request that we assist him in his project of building a clinic in his home town of Koiyom, Southern Sudan. Just one week later, Fr. Ron was invited to speak Wednesday of Holy Week 2007 at the “Young Christians at Work” program run by the Diocese of Buffalo. In this program, youngsters from across the eight counties of Western New York meet and spend their Easter Holiday time working in soup kitchens, food pantries, tutoring etc. Fr. Ron was to speak in the middle of the week about ROTA: Reaching Out 2 Africa and the many fine works that were able to be accomplished. This time Fr. Ron invited Fidele to accompany him and to share his story and his new idea with the youth.
Though it was late in the evening, the sixty youth listened intently and were riveted to Fidele and the remarkable and miraculous story of his survival, his life, and his meeting up with Fr. Ron. [Those miracle stories may be found below.] The evening finished, the week proceeded and Easter came and went. However Easter Tuesday, Fidele and Fr. Ron were summoned to a special meeting at this Catholic Center in Buffalo where a sizable number of youth from “Young Christians at Work” were meeting certain that they could come up with the funding to build the clinic in Fidele’s village of Koiyom. After some very excited discussion it was agreed upon that building the whole clinic may require many thousands of dollars; much more than the youth could raise. However even if the youth raised $35,000 it would be enough to build a portion of clinic which they wish to dedicate in memory of the late Fr. Gary Bagley, former head of the Diocese of Buffalo Youth Department and Sr. Karen Klimczak, SSJ, martyred here in Buffalo on Good Friday, 2005. The image and story they selected was that of the pickle jar that a man used to collect spare change until his young were ready to go to college. That change became big dollars that supplied the need. In addition to personal, family, and confirmation class “pickle jars,” youth from around the Diocese have sponsored events to generate funding: school and community walk-a-thons, battle of the bands fundraising, bake sales, glove sales, dress down days, haunted houses, golf tournaments, special parish collections, and even birthday party proceeds. The youth of the Diocese of Buffalo pray that their “Pickle Jar Activities;” though in the eyes of some may be meager, be blessed and multiply so that they may accomplish their goals and help Fidele Dhan build the Koiyom Clinic in Southern Sudan.
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ONE OF THE “LOST BOYS;”
ONE MISSION FOUND!
by Rev. Ronald P. Sajdak, Pastor of St. Martin de Porres, Buffalo, NY
Director of ROTA: Reaching Out To Africa
The United States made history this year as Lopez Lomong, 23, one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan, carried in the American Flag at the opening ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics. This youngster, who had to leave his family and homeland at the age of six, landed up as a foster child of a family south of Syracuse, excelled in Olympic quality distance running and will be competing this year representing us all. Lomong is one of about 3,500 “Lost Boys” that have graced our shores here in USA, many of whom are right now living among us here in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, etc. This is the story of one of these young men, Fidele Diing Dhan; One of the “Lost Boys” – One Mission Found.
In August of 2001 Dateline NBC had a special entitled the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” The program included video of the thousands upon thousands of orphaned boys walking into the camp that had been set up for them in Kenya. During the first morning at the camp, the camera panned across the sea of youngsters lying on the ground; most of them asleep; some awake; sitting up with blankets covering their faces and heads. Just then one of the boys turned and faced the camera with a puzzled look upon his face. That youngster touched my heart and I said to myself, “Child of God if you were in this country, you’d be in our house and we’d take care of you.” I’m reminded of the saying: “Be careful what you pray for; you’ll get it.” In the late summer of 2003 I received word from a friend that one of the “Lost Boys” had just been accepted to the University of Buffalo. He was looking for an inexpensive apartment to share with others. My friend requested that I check with a number of African families I knew in Buffalo asking if someone was in need of a student border. At that time most of the people I checked with were in stable homes with no extra room. I told my friend that the student would be welcome to spend some time at the St. Martin Residence until he would be able to secure his own apartment. Soon a young tall Dinka gentleman named Fidele Diing was at the door, bag in hand, and ready to take up residence with us. After a brief tour of the house and sharing with him the house rules, I shared with Fidele how from time to time some of the “Lost Boys” from Rochester accompanied me to give talks about Sudan and their particular journey. He expressed his interest and willingness to accompany us next time we would do a program. I also spoke of the Dateline NBC program that we often shared concerning their story. He became excited at that point and had heard much about it but had not seen the program as yet. That very evening we sat together in my living room and began to view the story of his people and his friends. Just into the beginning minutes of the program, pictures were being shared of the arrival of the boys and some stock footage from the UN’s refugee camp that was woven into Dateline’s story. This was one of my favorite parts with the image of the youngster that moved my heart to pray. Fidele became very nervous; he began to point toward the TV and shouted, over and over, to stop the video. We rewound it a few spaces. The replayed scene was familiar to me; the one of that youngster with the puzzled look upon his face, the same one that had touched my heart each time I viewed the program. Pointing to the image of that youngster, Fidele proclaimed “That’s me!” Indeed that very youngster, just twelve years old in the video was now twenty-five years old, sitting in my room, and taking up residence in our house at St. Martins.
Fidele Diing Dhan, one of the “Lost Boys” had left his home when he was about nine years old and joined the many other boys on their walking journey. Thousands of them left their villages, cattle pastures, and fields in order to find a place of safety after the armies of extremists of Northern Sudan raided, burned and pillaged their villages and homes. Thousands of these “Lost Boys” walked for years; many died due to disease, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and attack by wild animals, or drowning in Nile River crossings. Many settled in refugee camps in Ethiopia for some time until insurrection in Somalia forced them to take up their journey again finally ending in Kenya, Africa where the United Nations would set up a refugee camp and school for the children.
While at the camp, along with the others, through the Red Cross, Fidele received word that his parents and some siblings were still alive. He intended to finish his schooling at the camp, receive his high school diploma and then return home when a unique opportunity opened a door for him. Our then President, Bill Clinton, invited about 3,500 of the Lost Boys of Sudan to be resettled in America. Fidele was chosen to be relocated to the USA. His journey, as for so many of these young men, was an unbelievable adventure. In 2001 Fidele was resettled in Syracuse, NY with one of his sponsors being the St. Vincent de Paul parish community. After completing a GED and two year community college program with an associate degree in medical assistance, Fidele was accepted into UB and the Buffalo chapter of his life began.
As the years went by, Fidele continued his schooling, working, and visiting with others from his country. He studied for a double major and was able to complete a four year degree in psychology in three years; leaving the additional credit hours in pharmacy incomplete as yet. On June 14th, 2006, Flag Day, Fidele Diing Dhan became a US Citizen. Now he knew what he must do. In late summer last year he sold his car, dissipated his few belongings, completed his employment, took a break from school, and began a journey that would take him back to his homeland that he had not seen in over nineteen years.
Since he had left home his father had passed away, but he had the opportunity to speak to his mom and siblings. He was very excited about having the chance to be back home again. His journey took him from Buffalo to Khartoum, the capital city on the Muslim North in Sudan. There, overjoyed, he was reunited with his younger brother who was twenty-five and living in the area. After a few days of reunion, Fidele wished to continue his journey. His bother, knowing that his elder sibling may not be able to negotiate the wilds of life back in the country, accompanied him part way to ensure his safety. While on a public bus making their way down south, a terrible accident with a cargo truck occurred. Fidele was injured; his brother was killed. After the initial shock, Fidele took his brother’s body back to Khartoum for burial and took time also for himself to recuperate. Many of his friends now in the States including myself, spoke to him and urged him to return to the safety of America. “I came back to Sudan to visit more than one person; I came to visit my whole family,” he said. And so his journey, now dampened by this tragic loss, continued.
After some time of shared sadness over the loss of his brother, his family rejoiced to see him alive and well. However, a strange event began to occur. People from the village who were ill or injured began to seek him out even when he was still asleep asking if there was something he could do for them. He knew that he had not completed his pharmacy degree and even if he did he knew that currently there was no infrastructure operational in his town within which his skill could be used. After a few months with family he bid them goodbye and returned to Buffalo. Finding a new place to live, getting employed again, and beginning to seek out how he would be able to continue his education occupied his time at his return. However his pre-occupation was his passion that he 
should be able to help his people, not only later through his acquired skill, but through some program that he may initiate right here and now. It was then that he contacted St. Martin de Porres and ROTA: Reaching Out To Africa, beginning to discern the possibility of a new program. ROTA, which already has dug a functional cistern well, and built a new women’s dormitory at the St. Charles Lwanga Butende Technical Institute in Uganda, agreed that we would support Fidele Diing Dhan, one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan and his newfound mission: The Koiyom Clinic & School. The telling of Fidele’s story has enlightened and empowered many of the youth of our Buffalo church to support his efforts. Many young people of our community have been impressed by his bravery, his selflessness, and his dedication to help his people. To date youth of the Church at Buffalo have raised over $21,000 for the clinic through a variety of programs such as: Pickle Jar Collection Containers at Churches, Schools, and local businesses; Walk-A-Thons; benefits concerts, coffee houses, etc.
As a country, we can be very proud of our African brother, Olympic Athlete, new citizen and New Yorker, Lopez Lomong. St. Martin de Porres and Reaching Out To Africa is so very proud of Fidele Diing Dhan, one of many of the “Lost Boys” in the greater New York Area who are also engaged in projects to help rebuild and assist their war torn homeland. We are proud to call them our brothers and our sons.
Fidele Diing Dhan, One of “The Lost Boys;” One Mission Found!
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Evarist House
REST – IN – PEACE
Fr. Evarist Lubega
Of our Sister Ministry: St. Charles Lwanga BTI
Butende Technical School, Masaka, UGANDA
Date of Birth: August 3rd, 1959
Ordained to Priesthood: July 31st, 1988
(16+ years a Holy Priest)
Entered into Eternal Life: Sunday, May 1st, 2005 (45 years old)
This is the feast day of the Lord’s true witness,
Who on this day received the glory due him.
Let all creation celebrate his goodness,
Cherish his memory.
Prudent in judgment, gentle toward all others,
Open, unselfish in the love he offered.
All of his days the Gospel was his wisdom,
Christ his true teacher.
Brother was he to all the world’s forgotten;
Lonely and ill, they came to him for healing.
God gave him power, gifts for our salvation:
Love, health, and pardon.
“Iste Confessor” 8th Century Hymn
Fr. Evarist Lubega was ordained and served within the Diocese of Masaka, Uganda; his lordship John Baptist Kaggwa, bishop. Fr. Evarist took a position as director of the St. Charles Lwanga Butende Technical Institute (BTI). While there and desiring some rest he made a journey in January 2001 to Buffalo, New York to visit another Ugandan priest from Masaka who resided in Niagara Falls, NY, Fr. Matthias Kibuka. He often spoke of that first visit to the Western New York area and how surprising it was that it was so very cold and that we had something he had never seen before……snow. During his first visit he accompanied Fr. Matthias on most of his ministry ventures that took him far and wide including some ministry in the East Pembroke area. He met many people and became fast friends with all. Soon his one month was over and he headed back to the beautifully green and always warm Southern Uganda.
In the following year, January of 2002 he made his journey again to Western New York. New friends he had met in East Pembroke facilitated his travel and looking for a place to stay he moved into the rectory of the former St. Matthew Church re-titled the St. Martin de Porres Residence. He assisted St. Martin de Porres’ first pastor Rev. Roderick Brown, OP. It was only a few weeks later, while attending the Diocesan Martin Luther King Jr. Mass on January 20th, 2002 that he met Fr. Ron Sajdak and became fast friends. His sabbatical time was scheduled for only three months but that was extended to six and then nine months. Because Fr. Evarist was with us for that length of time, in addition to Buffalo winter, he had the opportunity to experience his first “Springtime.” Like a little child each day he awoke to new life bursting around him; each day praising God for this new experience. He once told me that he thought we in Buffalo endured life with snow and dead like trees all year long.
Fr. Ron and Fr. Evarist spent very much time together and the idea of raising funds to assist the St. Charles Lwanga school was surfaced. A dinner meeting with construction contractors and their wives was held in Orchard Park, NY with Fr. Evarist as the guest speaker. Fr. Evarist had been sharing how different workshops of students all took turns twice a day, walking three miles and retrieving water from a spring to bring to the school where it was boiled and purified to be used for personal washing, cooking, etc. and while Fr. Evarist spoke about the typical lifestyle of a day at the school, one of the dinner’s participants inquired if a well, dug upon the property, may do more to assist the students at this time than sending tools, books, etc. With a puzzled look upon his face he admitted that he had never considered that…..and the idea of a well project was born.
While celebrating Mass at St. Martin de Porres and sharing his new initiatives concerning the Well Project, he made the good fortune of indicating that one small American penny would go a long way to assist his students. Pastoral Associate Sr. Philip Marie appeared minutes later in front of the congregation holding two large black buckets in her hands indicating that these would hold all the pennies that the congregation would collect in order to assist this humble priest. The penny drive was on. Fr. Evarist returned to his homeland and St. Charles Lwanga BIT and soon the construction of the school’s well became a reality. This was the beginning of ROTA: Reaching Out 2 Africa’s “Third World Connections” outreach reaching the motherland of Africa itself.
It wasn’t long afterwards that another note was sent to his supporters back in Buffalo, New York. In his own words he said: “Dear friends and benefactors, it is quite some time since I communicated. I hope you are all healthy and preparing to enter the Buffalo cold / winter. All your friends in the Institute continue to salute you all and pray for you. Life has continued to improve and the causes of St Charles Lwanga Technical Institute furthered. Ever since we completed constructing the water tank (end of March, 2003) the number of students has increased from 196 to the current figure of 273. This is due to the fact that we now have at the premises good clean water. Students are safe from waterborne diseases that used to harass us. Time and energy is all spent on curriculum work. In fact many more parents want their children to join the Institute but we have no dormitory space to inhabit them. May I therefore request that that for any future Sister Ministry Plans - consideration be made for putting up another students' dormitory” The invitation to our second project was made and ROTA: Reaching Out 2 Africa took up the challenge.
The first on site visit to the St. Charles Lwanga BTI was made by Fr. Ron Sajdak and Mr. Richard Ersing in February 2005. They inspected the well project, met the faculty and students and were able to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for all God’s blessings in forming these international relationships. The disturbing news was soon to come that our good friend and brother Fr. Evarist had expired. His slight frame weakened from constant battles with typhoid fever, pneumonia, and recurring bouts of Malaria soon took him from us. Quickly, 
ROTA sent for the school’s principal, Mr. Stephen Sseruwu to make a journey to Buffalo New York for a Memorial Service for Fr. Evarist and help the Western New York area renew its dedication to the St. Charles Lwanga, BTI. His visit did just that and the “Evarist House” dormitory project was well on the way. In 2008 a delegation of five representatives were on hand for the blessing and dedication of “Evarist House” a dormitory for young women students at the St. Charles Lwanga BTI, donated by ROTA: Reaching Out 2 Africa.
(Click Evarist House box to start the Slide Show)
Share the well
(Click Share the Well box to start the Slide Show)
Saint Charles Lwanga
Butende Technical Institute
(B.T.I.)
(Click B.T.I. box to start the Slide Show)
A Brief History
St. Charles Lwanga
Butende Township
Trade School
In the period after Colonialism, many corrupt dictatorships were in power. These often led to civil unrest and war. This along with the widespread manifestation of HIV/AIDS has left Uganda filled with many orphaned boys and girls as well as many widows.
In 1982, the Church of the Diocese of Masaka began the St. Charles Lwanga Trade School as a way of ministering to the practical needs of these many suffering peoples.
In 1996 Fr. Evarist Lubega was appointed as Director and devotes all his efforts to bring assistance to the school which helps so many develop skills that can both help themselves, their families, and also their country through this investment in their nation’s best natural resource, its people.
School Offerings
Two Year Program of Study
Suitable Candidates may be recommended to take the National Technical Exam. If it is successfully completed, they may be awarded a National Technical Certificate.
Academic Year
Consists of Three Semesters
Who Are Our Students?
David Mugaga is a young orphaned boy who served as an Altar Server and worked for the priests of his parish fetching firewood and water. At age 21, David was invited to become a laborer employee of the school. While working he also studied as a student apprentice in woodworking. Currently he is on staff as an instructor.
Rose Nakazibwe is a young woman with five children. She doesn’t know if her husband is living or dead since he never returned from a recent war. She grew beans near her home and often looked for markets to sell them and support her family. She was invited to work as a cook at the school. It was discovered that in addition to being a good cook she was an excellent tailor. She was invited to remain at the school as an instructor but because of her family obligations that was impossible. However, the school provided her a sewing machine that she was able to take home and use to teach seven orphaned students from her town while still taking care of her children’s needs.
Areas of Study
Carpentry
Joinery, Operating Hand Tools, Furniture Making
Masonry
Brick Making, Block Laying, House Building
Tailoring
15 Sewing Machines/Clothes
Students
Currently 196 Total Students
77% male/23% female
50% Resident/50% Day Students-18+ years old
Production Unit
The school accepts contracts from various venues in its Carpentry Shop. To defray the costs of tuition students work in production of furniture goods after school hours, 6:00pm-9:00pm five days a week.
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