At a Share the Journey event April 7 at St. Mary Parish in Saskatoon, Agatha Mutongolo shared this video she created as part of an Open Door Society project:
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski
[SASKATOON, April 2019] – A “Share the Journey” procession from St. Mary’s Church to the parish hall for a beans-and-rice lunch on Solidarity Sunday April 7, was followed by presentations and sharing circles reflecting on the refugee experiences of two families in the parish who spent years in refugee camps before finding new homes and a new life in Canada.
“Share the Journey” is the theme of this year’s Share Lent campaign in support of the work of Development and Peace/Caritas Canada. It is also the theme of a two-year global campaign of awareness about the realities of forced migration, which affects some 68.5 million around the world, explained St. Mary parishioner Bernice Daratha, a member of the parish Development and Peace team that organized the event. Other members of the parish team are Ana Marin, Dulce Reyes, Michelle LeBrash, and Reanne Lajeunesse.
Mutongolo and Bu Reh family members spoke about their particular journeys.
Kyala and Faustin Mutongolo shared their story of the danger, fear and trial of their forced migration from DR Congo, as they fled the civil war and violence that was continually breaking out in their home village. The violence even disrupted their wedding day, with the bride forced to flee into the bush because of another outbreak of violence in her village, while her husband and guests in a nearby village were anxiously waiting word about what had happened to disrupt plans. The delayed wedding took place later on, when a priest was able to bless their marriage on short notice, in spite of continuing violence, .
Several times over the years, the growing family fled violence in the community, returning when it was safe — but on the day that Kyala went into labour with their first child, violence broke out again, and she was unable to flee, giving birth at home, with sounds of shooting all around. During another incident, five months pregnant and carrying a toddler and as many belongings as she and Faustin could manage up a steep mountain, Kyala sat down and told her husband she could go no farther. Three times he carried belongings ahead and returned to her, saying he would carry her to safety if he had to, before she was able to find the energy to keep going.
Eventually, “it was too much,” Kyala said. The couple took their young children and fled DR Congo forever, journeying to neighbouring Zambia, where they lived in the difficult conditions of the Mayukwayukwa refugee camp for some three years, faced with a perennial shortage of food, terrible water quality, malaria and other diseases. “We had peace, but there were so many challenges and problems. We were sick every day — if not me, my children, or my husband.” Through it all, they never lost faith in God or in prayer. “We left everything, but it was good, because if you have God, you have everything,” she said.
Eventually the family learned they had been accepted as refugees to Canada. “That day is a day we will never forget,” said Kyala. “If you pray and make your faith in God, nothing is impossible.” Today they are able to live in peace, with enough to eat, with a church and friends, she described.
With great joy, Faustin Mutongolo described finding St. Mary parish after they arrived in Saskatoon. After years of praying the rosary and asking the Blessed Virgin Mary for her intercession and protection, they were overjoyed to learn from the principal of their children’s school – Owen Fortosky at St. Mark’s Community School – that the local Catholic Church was a parish named in honour of St. Mary. Faustin said: “For us, that was like a miracle!”
Members of the Reh family also described their experience of living under an oppressive government regime in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and being forced to leave the country in the face of war and persecution of the Karenni people.
St. Mary’s parishioner Bu Reh fled the violence at the age of 12, crossing a treacherous river on the border before arriving in a refugee camp in Thailand known as Karenni Refugee Camp 1, where he lived for 15 years. Other members of his family eventually followed, fleeing in secret and taking great risks to find safety. He and other family members described conditions of the camp, the food distribution system, and other challenges. Arriving in Canada some three years ago, family members said they are relieved and grateful to have found refuge and safety.
