Inspired by the 2004 Rome Congress on Consecrated Life, Passion for Christ Passion for Humanity, this project, Solidarity with Southern Sudan (SSS or Solidarity), is an act of communion between religious institutes of men and women, which are members of the Unions of Superiors General (USG and UISG), and the Church in Southern Sudan under the direction of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC).
After decades of civil war, when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in January 2005, the bishops of
Solidarity with Southern Sudan is a project that seeks to promote the Kingdom of God in partnership with the local church and the people of Sudan through the establishment and development of teacher and health training institutes and those pastoral services deemed most urgent.
In recognition of the dignity of each person, SSS commits its community members to embrace and act out of a spirituality of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation marked by:
- proclamation of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ through our life witness and committed action, through our community life together.
- vulnerability and powerlessness, placing ourselves at the service of the people of Southern Sudan.
- appreciation and respect for local cultures, learning from the values of others which enrich and challenge our way of living.
- dialogue and mutuality, recognizing the Spirit of God at work in each person and each faith tradition.
- solidarity and accompaniment, empowering and supporting the Sudanese people as they rebuild their lives, their communities, and their societal structures.
- reconciliation, promoting mutual understanding to heal past hurts and build right relationships.
- reverence for all creation, committing ourselves to recognize the sacredness of life and to protecting life in all its forms.
- hope, shouldering the struggle together with the Sudanese people in their journey of peace and reconciliation.