MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Spring 2025

Joanne Blaney, Uganda

Missioners Joanne Blaney (center) and Marj Humphrey (far right) with the Archdiocesan Justice and Peace team in Gulu, Uganda.

Greetings from Gulu, Uganda!

I am here almost two months now and it has been an incredible journey. Marj Humphrey, another lay missioner, and I are in the northern part of Uganda in an area largely populated by the Acholi people. We have been warmly welcomed!

The Acholi have historically been the victims of unspeakable brutality and violence—going back to the time of Idi Amin, through the reign of terror of the Lord’s Resistance Army, and currently the targets of cattle-raiding and land-grabbing by other tribes as well. The area is very near the border with South Sudan.

We were invited by the Archdiocesan Justice and Peace team who asked for training in Restorative Justice as they have been working for many years with conflict resolution in the area.

According to Archbishop Odama, rebulding communities torn apart by kidnapping, brutal violence, forced relocation, and decades of war has not been easy. Close to 2 million returnees came home to destroyed land, homes, schools, etc.

Together with the Pastoral team, we offered a capacity-building course training 60 catechists, teachers, and community/parish leaders on trauma-healing, restorative justice, and nonviolence. These groups were identified by the Archdiocese as “crucial members of their communities and critical yeast for transformation of their communities. Their ability to listen, dialogue, and help heal divisions and conflicts is an essential part of their leadership in stopping violence in families and among people.”

We are truly walking on Holy Ground among people who suffer greatly but have strong faith, courage, and a determination to heal and transform their communities.

Acholii customs before the war were based on the restorative justice process of truth-telling, individual/collective responsibility, restitution, and a ceremony of reconciliation among those involved in the conflict with the participation of community members.

The effect of the war, abduction, and horrific abuse of many young girls and boy child soldiers, and displacement camps have resulted in conflicts, high rates of domestic violence, alcoholism, and the commercialization of communal land.

In northern Uganda, all military efforts to end the brutal conflict failed abjectly and only created more violence and suffering, while ultimately it was a process of active nonviolence that succeeded in ending the war (Stop Fighting, Start Talking: Archbishop Odama. Written by John Ashworth, Paulines Press, 2024).

The participants were very involved in the course training given by us and Ugandan team members. We now are accompanying them in their sites as they work to implement the practices of dialogue and restoring relationships and communities.

Over and over again, we hear how they have been affected by the training:

“I was very angry, used to beat my children all the time. Now I listen and dialogue with my family and the community leadership team.” 

“I learned how to forgive myself and it has become easier to forgive others and work with them.”

“I changed how I interact with the students. I see how I did not listen and my way of communication caused more conflicts. Now I bring them together and help them resolve peacefully their conflicts.”

The participants were very involved in the course training given by Joanne, Marj, and Ugandan team members, who are now are accompanying the participants in their sites as they work to implement the practices of dialogue and restoring relationships and communities.

We had the opportunity to listen to the stories of 30 women who were abducted as children by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels. Sr. Giovanna Calabria, a Comboni Sister, has accompanied them and hundreds more over the years.

These women were abducted as girls, some as young as nine years old, by the LRA rebels. They were sexually and physically abused and many spent more than 10 years in captivity in these conditions.

We were humbled and affected by their stories of atrocities and injustice. Through expressions of grief and depression, anger and bitterness, faith and hope they shared with us their hopes and and continued fears.

The abducted women rendered us silent as they told not only of their ordeals but of their resultant stigmatization and societal rejection as they escaped, one by one over time, bringing their children fathered by the LRA soldiers.

They did not meet welcoming embraces when they tried to return to their families but instead they were greeted by total rejection and judgement. They brought their children who were born in the bush during their captivity when they escaped, but the children also have never been welcomed into their families and clans, because they were fathered by “satan”. The children do not attend school and are very isolated.

Several said this has been one of the hardest parts as what they crave most is human connectedness and belonging. More than 20 years later, they remain isolated and rebuffed members of society and given no land for settling and raising food. They were so grateful for our listening hearts. We were so privileged and honored to hear and honor their stories.

Just recently, we also did some trauma-healing exercises and restorative circles with 200 abducted women who shared their wisdom of coping with the trauma. They expressed their excitement at coming together again, belonging to the group, praying together and learning new skills. Multiple times they expressed their gratitude to us and especially to Sr. Giovanna, who “has accompanied us and given us hope.”

I have been deeply touched by the faith and determination of the Ugandan people. Each day begins with a prayer of gratitude to God for life and sustenance. Generosity of heart and sharing is very common from those who have so little and live in such poverty.

We join together in our prayers for peace in our world. Step by step, we walk together in peace (Samaritan Center slogan in Gulu)!!!

As Pope Francis reminds us: “It is impossible for peace to exist without dialogue. All the wars, all the strife, all the unsolved problems over which we clash are due to a lack of dialogue. When there is a problem, talk: this can lead to peace.”

We know the enormous challenges in our country and our world. May we work this Lenten season to be examples of Gospel values. Know that you continue to be in my prayers.

With deep gratitude for your prayers and ongoing support!

United in our prayers and work for peace,
Joanne

If you would like to donate to Maryknoll Lay Missioners and/or this Uganda project (tax-deductible donation) by check, please indicate Mission Account – Joanne Blaney, Uganda Fund on the check/donation and send it to Maryknoll Lay Missioners at MKLM, PO Box 307, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0307. Even a very small amount goes a long way.