Our fifth entry in the travelogue is written by Christina Lujan, from St. Louis of France Catholic Church.

Enchantment and Honor

Called to Witness participants pose with Father Charles, the rector of the seminary of the Archdiocese of Jos and a newly appointed Bishop in Nigeria.

What an incredible journey thus far! We have been so overwhelmed by the welcoming of the people. Everywhere we turn, we are welcomed with smiles and beautiful greetings. One can feel the joy of our presence in this country. Today we were told by Father Oscar that he was “enchanted” by our coming. We too have been enchanted by what we have heard and seen. What an amazing honor it is for us to sit in room filled with the Archdiocesan youth director and numerous youth leaders that have gathered to highlight their ministry here in Jos. One can honestly say that they are far more advanced in their structure of youth leadership (defined in Nigeria as ages 15-35) than we are in the United States. It was impressive to see and hear how numerous youth organization come together as one. They work collectively to achieve one common goal: to build the youth who are the present and future hope of the church.

We went from an inspiring meeting to yet another blessed gathering at St. Augustine Major Seminary. Just to see and hear that there are over 270 seminarians was inspiring. WOW! We then met with the director, Father Charles, and received the news that we were sitting with a newly appointed Bishop. What an honor!

Yet the day’s excitement was only increasing. We later enjoyed one of the best meals with great company thus far. We were hosted for dinner at the Bishop’s residency in Jos. We were the guests of honor amongst many religious and friends; at least 70. There is no such thing as a ‘small’ meal or gathering. The relationship and interaction of the church with the people is one I have never experienced before. At times it has been hard to differentiate the priest from others. It brought much joy to be able to share a meal with many of the friends we have met during our stay in Jos.

Sue Versluys and David Gallant pose in the native attire that was made for them during our visit and worn at the CRS Nigeria annual party.

Together we had a beautiful afternoon in retreat, reflecting and sharing our experiences of people and places over the last week. Each one of us has been touched by something or someone and we are not going home the same person. It may have been a conversation, a sight, an encounter or a gesture, but the people of Nigeria have given us new view on what it means to really embrace all of life.

In the evening we were invited to the CRS Annual Staff Party. We all had beautiful traditional Nigerian outfits made by Seun, the wife of our guide, Ayo. At the party 3 women who are HIV positive shared their testimonies with us on how CRS has helped them and the challenges they face. Awards were presented for outstanding CRS staff work, providing an even bigger picture of the scope of CRS’ work. Good food and conversation were shared; digital pictures became the amusement of children. We even were able to share our unique style of “American” dancing and learned some moves from the Nigerians as well. It was another day of celebrating community that the people here truly embrace. I hope to be able to pack that sense of community into my suitcase.

Written by Amy Bly, Lake City, MN

Our fourth entry in the travelogue is written by David Gallant, from St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish & National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders.

After mass, Thomas Hargis joins in the dance of the music and drum troupe that led music during the liturgy

Never in my life have I met a people who truly knew what Church was! We were truly blessed to be able to celebrate mass today with the parishioners of St. Jon Bosco. It was an exciting experience to see how alive the faith is here in Jos. The community celebrates their faith in a way that I have never seen in all my travels throughout America, Canada, and in Europe. For many of us on the team, we shared with each other how the celebration touched us in a way that brought us closer to God.
Mass here is such an integral aspect of the lives of Catholics. Music was celebratory as the beating of the drums echoed through our hearts. People gathered at least a half hour before mass began to sing and dance in anticipation of receiving Jesus. The parishioners here have experienced the horror of inter-religious violence, but have held onto hope; a hope in knowing that our God is with them in their journey of life.

As a youth minister, I desire that our youth embrace the idea of total active participation in the life of the Church, and this is what I saw and experienced today. The actions of the parishioners were not ‘going through the motions’, but were a deliberate and intentional response to the saving grace of our Lord.

Of course we all know that the Church teaches us that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith that brings us into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. But here, this reality is lived out fully with song and dance. After receiving the body of Christ, people did not return to their seats in silent prayer and reflection. Instead, celebration broke out throughout the congregation. Music and dance flowed throughout the whole Church, and we were caught up in this celebration!

As I reflect upon my life and relationship with Jesus, I wonder why I have not truly celebrated Jesus’ actions in my own life as we did today. I should have the desire to dance and sing with the joy of knowing that Jesus died to save us from sin and death. If the Church in America truly celebrated as they do here in Jos, we would have a renewal of Catholicism spread throughout our nation. I pray that the complete joy and love of the Eucharist that we experienced today will stay with us after we leave the community and bring this back with us to our own parishes throughout America.

Our third entry in the travelogue is written by Dennis Fisher, from Catholic Relief Services’ Northeast Regional Office.

Members of the Martyrs of Uganda Parish choir perform a traditional song in the Kuru community gathering.

The Fruits of Kuru

Kuru, the highest point in the state of Plateau in the country of Nigeria, was the site of our first visit in the Archdiocese of Jos. The name of the community, Kuru, comes from the fruit that grows in the region. But the fruit of Kuru is both natural and human.

The reason for our journey to Kuru and the parish of the Martyrs of Uganda was to see first-hand the work of the Archdiocese and CRS with people affected by the HIV & AIDS pandemic. After being welcomed by the chief of the Kuru community, we were further greeted with traditional dance and music of the community. As we joined in the processional dance, the 400+ people present clapped in welcome. Not only were we humbled, but we were overwhelmed by the Gospel hospitality and the wide array of stories of hope of the entire community.

This parish is one of 23 sites where CRS supports community based care programs for orphans and vulnerable children in the Archdiocese of Jos. The people of Kuru have taken on responsibility for 130 children affected by the deaths of their parents and other family members. They have simply made these children their own. In fact, they do not call them orphans; they call them “their children.”

A moment of solidarity occurred when Called to Witness participant, Kat Doyle, was speaking with a few young girls. One of the girls commented to Kat, “You are so different from us.” Kat then asked the girls to look at their fingers and hands, and shook them together in various motions. Once the girls compared their hands to Kat’s and followed with the same motions, they “got it.” We are more alike than we think. Indeed, it is the same for all of us.

It is interesting that our journey is titled, “Called to Witness;” yet, today we were called to see the witness of the people of Kuru as they extended the same love to us as they do their children. We were called to witness our God present in the people of Kuru. We have become members of the Kuru community and our hearts will carry the care and love of the Kuru community back home. Hopefully the fruit of solidarity will grow in our work as well.

— Dennis Fisher

Amy Bly poses with a market vendor who delighted the Called to Witness group by trying to teach them how to carry food and wares on the head, a typical practice by many women in Nigeria.

We went to debrief with the department heads of the Justice Development & Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC), the Diocesan Health Committee (DHC) and the Youth Chaplain, Father Alex. There was an exchange of experiences, suggestions and ideas between all, allowing us to further discover the commonality we share. Someone stated, “We have seen the risen Jesus in the people of Jos and they too have seen the risen Jesus in us.” I must mention that Ayo who was in the seminary for 7 years, stood up and thanked us. He stated he left the church, has three children whom are not baptized and now because of his experiences with us is returning to the church and will have his children baptized.

We were given beautiful gifts; the ladies were given purses and the men were given native shirts, both by a co-op for prison inmates, and Father Alex asked us to please pray for the inmates. We all posed for pictures, or “snaps” as they are called, hugged each other goodbye one last time, exchanged e-mail address, loaded up and left.

We hadn’t driven very far, perhaps only to the outskirts of town when we stopped at a roadside stand that sold all sorts of beautiful, fresh fruits and vegetables. The team from CRS in Abuja was going to purchase a few items for their families. The idea was to stay in the van. Of course none of us could, and out we piled to experience carrying fruits and vegetables on our heads. They were much heavier than we expected which gave us an appreciation for the hard work the ladies are doing.

Our nightly reflection was just as moving as the experiences of the day. We were interrupted too many times to count: The lights flickered off and on. Then the phone rang. We had to stop to get measured for the clothes we were having made. Finally, the maintenance man stopped by to fix the toilet. Life happens, yet, sometimes in the most surprising manner through the sharing of ideas, stories and acts of kindness! When we finally finished our nightly reflection, the thoughts of our dialogues reminded me of a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Thought is the blossom, language is the bud and action is the fruit behind it.”

The two tribal chiefs from the communities at conflict with one another join hands after sharing with the Called to Witness group the process of reconciliation that the CRS peacebuilding has helped them to embrace.

This afternoon we were welcomed into the village of Namu, in the Archdiocese of Shendam, about 3 hours outside of Jos. The Archdiocese of Jos Office of Justice, Development and Peace Caritas Committee had briefed us earlier regarding the 2005-06 crisis between the Gami and Pan Tribes which had resulted in the destruction of property, lives and relationships, including the displacement of thousands in the Namu community. Our welcome by the recently resettled people of Namu included a hope filled ‘handshake of peace’ between the Christian Chief of the Pan Tribe and the Muslim Chief of the Gami Tribe which took place beneath the branches of a gnarled old tree that had survived the recent violence.

Several of us then had the honor to spend time with a few of the youth who live in the village and, like young people everywhere, they were eager to share their stories. Two teenage boys told us of their water woes—most notably that the closest well is over 10 km/6 miles away and of a water system that was installed but has never worked. They also shared their joy by inviting us into their home, proudly showing us their new handmade furniture, and explaining that extended families with as many as 25 or more children lived in each 2 room dwelling. The reality of the situation was stark as we witnessed new houses being constructed along side the charred remains of fire bombed homes.

Another young man introduced us to his wife, 2 children, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and various siblings and cousins. As he showed us around he quietly shared with us that his father had been killed during the conflict and then went on to speak of his hope for the future. As we prepared to depart, 13 year old Genevieve, who had joined a group of children running their dark hands through my blond hair, took my hand, smiled up at me and called me her friend. I was humbled by the sincerity of her precious gift of friendship.

During the long ride back to Jos we reflected on our basic human rights and responsibilities and shared intentions for those we had met, while we pondered the contrasts we had seen and the connections we had found amidst the rubble in Namu.

Our second entry in the travelogue is written by Matthew Robaszkiewicz, from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry.

Christina Lujan speaks with Sr. Jovita, HIV & AIDS Program Coordinator, about the outreach to local communities.

Being Fully Present

Our second day in Nigeria… Breakfast at the hotel in Abuja, the Valencia Hotel… Meeting with the Archdiocese of Abuja Youth Council at Holy Trinity Church… Four hours of travel by van to Jos and arrival at the City Lodge Hotel… Dinner at the New Beach Restaurant… CTW group meditation and reflection…

It is still somewhat overwhelming, the thought of actually being here in Nigeria – not knowing what to expect, exactly what we will be doing, or what we will experience in our time here. Try as I might, it is difficult to relinquish any preconceived notions of Africa. However, I am determined – as is the rest of the group – to begin each day with an open mind and heart and to simply live in the moment, being fully present to the people we meet and to the sights and experiences we encounter.

The most unforgettable and exciting part of the day was our travel from Abuja to Jos – a ‘cozy and intimate ride’ of four hours packed into a CRS van. This most certainly was an opportunity to bond at a whole new level with my fellow travelers! Watching the landscape and infrastructure transform before us – from a bustling and somewhat modern capitol city to the more sparsely populated rural towns and villages – was a realization that the experience of our first day was not a true picture of life in Nigeria. The adobe huts and abandoned structures, the roadside peddlers and shoeless children, roaming cattle and goats, and vast areas of arid land and lush foliage, were evidently the realities of a majority of the population. Yet, without fail, every person we encountered during our travel greeted our presence with a warm smile and a friendly wave – evidencing the fact that we were truly welcome!

Our brief roadside ‘stretch and bathroom break’ is a story for another reflection…

- Matthew Robaszkiewicz

In April, the 2008 Called to Witness group will travel to Nigeria to see Catholic Relief Services responding to poverty and fostering peace. Check back in the weeks ahead for postings to our travelogue, telling the story of our journey and pilgrimage to Nigeria. If you are interested in learning more about Called to Witness visit the Called to Witness homepage.

Called to Witness participants pose with religious leaders from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja (April 17).

Our first entry in the travelogue is written by Sue Versluys, from the Diocese of Rochester.

Graced with Hospitality

After spending a day in London and a 6-hour flight to Nigeria, the Called to Witness team departed the plane upon its arrival at 4:30am. We were greeted by CRS staff who helped us negotiate customs, luggage and our first morning in Nigeria. We are staying in Abuja, the capital city, for one day and then travel to Jos on Friday.

After a short morning rest, we met with CRS staff at the CRS/Nigeria office. The staff, who was most welcoming and hospitable, provided a security briefing and an overview of the CRS programming throughout the country.

In the late afternoon, we traveled to the office of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) where we met Rev. Fr. Peter Okonkioo CMF, director of Pastoral Agents CSN and Deputy Secretary General and Director of Pastoral Affairs, Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu. Sister Benedin shared her story as General Administrator. We toured the offices of the CSN, then met with some youth ministry folks who were debriefing their first National Youth Day Abuja 2000 for which nearly 6000 young adults (or as they say in Nigeria, “youth”) attended.

After a busy day and late dinner consisting of pounded yam, various soups, stews and salads, we collapsed for a good night’s sleep. As the day neared an end, we can all be grateful for the graceful hospitality and care with which we were welcomed.

- Sue Versluys