Salesian Sisters in Sudan Counting Losses as Bomb Hits Residence

Khartoum, 09 November, 2023 / 9:56 PM

Members of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), also called Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco in Sudan, have been left counting losses after a bomb exploded at their residence on November 3.

Dar Mariam Mission in Khartoum, which houses five religious sisters, a priest and lay people who sought refuge there, was hit in the incident that occurred at 6.50am.

In an interview with Catholic Pontifical and Charity Foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, Fr Jacob Thelekkadan, the resident Priest, said that the bomb hit the building’s first floor, and that it was a miracle that no one was killed.

Casualties were minimized as the women and children staying there were all gathered on the ground floor at the time, Fr Thelekkadan said, and added, “We cannot imagine the harm that these explosions would have caused if it landed on the ground floor.”

He said, “Some residents suffered slight injuries. One young mother and her two children, aged seven and four, received minor head wounds.”

The member of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) further said, “The first floor, which sustained most of the damage, houses most of the bedrooms.”

Fr. Thelekkadan said that the bomb broke into two when it hit the building, causing two explosions.

Bomb landed in Dar Mariam house, Khartoum, Sudan. Credit: ACN

“The first part of the bomb shattered the teacher’s room, hurting him on both his legs, but not very seriously,” the Indian-born SDB member who serves as the Director of St. Joseph Vocational Training Centre (VCT) situated in Khartoum said.

He added, “The second part of the bomb shattered the two rooms of the Sisters and their room doors flew off and fell a meter away.”

“Two of the Salesian Sisters were in one room and the room door and toilet door fell on them. One of them was injured in the back, though not seriously,” Fr. Thelekkadan said, adding that the doors “probably saved her from the heavy shrapnel of the bomb.”

The SDB Priest added, “The bomb then tore through the brick wall of the toilet, making a large hole, and then through the brick wall of the room of two other Sisters who were already in the ground-floor chapel.”

All those injured in the blasts were taken to hospital, and have already been discharged.

Fr. Thelekkadan further said a painting of Our Lady at the residence was destroyed in the incident, adding that “we are certain that Our Blessed Mother wanted to sacrifice herself for all of us.”

The beautiful portrait of Our Blessed Mother shattered into pieces. Credit: ACN

“The beautiful portrait of Our Blessed Mother shattered into pieces. I want to reiterate the continuous provident care of God on all in Dar Mariam,” the Priest said, and added, “The maternal protection of Our Blessed Mother reigns in Dar Mariam.”

Fr. Thelekkadan stayed in Sudan to support the Salesian sisters who are looking after women and children, as well as the elderly and infirm at the Dar Mariam Mission.

The Catholic priest for prayers for the end of the war between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which broke out on April 15 and is concentrated in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, saying, “Continue to pray that this senseless and tragic war will come to an end and that God may grant the gift of lasting peace to the Sudan.”