Catholics gather for requiem for Slovak nun shot in South Sudan
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IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Father Liam DunneBy Francis NjugunaNAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) -- Missionaries and other Catholicsgathered in Nairobi May 23 for a requiem Mass for a Slovak nun killed in Yei,South Sudan.Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Veronika Theresia Rackova, 58,director of St. Bakhita Medical Center in Yei, was shot the night of May 16 whiledriving an ambulance after taking an expectant mother to the hospital. When theambulance was attacked by soldiers, Sister Rackova was wounded in the hip andabdomen.After two surgeries in Yei, she was evacuated to Nairobi,where she died May 20.Sister Maria Jerly, regional superior for the Holy SpiritMissionary Sisters, told Catholic News Service that Sister Rackova was shot aspeople marked John Garang Day. She added that a motive for the shooting was notknown. Three soldiers were arrested in connection with theincident, and Sister Jerly added, "One of them is said to have admittedhaving shot at Sister Rackova."Six of the order's nuns are servi...
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Father Liam Dunne
By Francis Njuguna
NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) -- Missionaries and other Catholics
gathered in Nairobi May 23 for a requiem Mass for a Slovak nun killed in Yei,
South Sudan.
Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Veronika Theresia Rackova, 58,
director of St. Bakhita Medical Center in Yei, was shot the night of May 16 while
driving an ambulance after taking an expectant mother to the hospital. When the
ambulance was attacked by soldiers, Sister Rackova was wounded in the hip and
abdomen.
After two surgeries in Yei, she was evacuated to Nairobi,
where she died May 20.
Sister Maria Jerly, regional superior for the Holy Spirit
Missionary Sisters, told Catholic News Service that Sister Rackova was shot as
people marked John Garang Day. She added that a motive for the shooting was not
known.
Three soldiers were arrested in connection with the
incident, and Sister Jerly added, "One of them is said to have admitted
having shot at Sister Rackova."
Six of the order's nuns are serving in South Sudan, mainly
in the Yei Diocese. Sister Jerly told CNS the congregation did not plan to
leave the area.
"On the contrary, we would like to continue giving
services to the needy people of this great country of South Sudan," she
said, adding, "Some of our sisters are right now tormented over the
incident, but we plan to continue to carry our badly needed services by the
needy people of this country."
Sister Jerly said Sister Rackova would be buried in Kenya,
and that the Divine Word Fathers, the sisters' male counterparts in Kenya,
would handle the arrangements. A statement from the Holy Spirit Missionary
Sisters said due to the complexity and legal implications of the situation, the
order could not confirm date and place of funeral.
Sister Rackova was born Jan. 8, 1958, and professed final
vows in 1994. As a medical doctor with specialization in tropical diseases, she
worked in Ghana. She served as head of the province of Slovakia 2004-2010,
after which she was assigned to South Sudan.
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