"Fr Victor-Luke worked with all his energy and gave his sweat and blood for the promotion of good education in South Sudan. This effort reached its climax at Mazollari Teachers’ College where he even paid the ultimate price of his own blood being poured out.” These were the words of Fr Leonard Afulo SJ at the funeral of fellow Jesuit, Fr Victor-Luke Odhiambo, who was gunned down on the morning of 15th November by two assailants who broke into his home. He died instantly. The funeral was held in the teachers’ college in Cueibet, where he was Principal. The town is in Gok State, one of the new states decreed by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir in 2015. The states are divided largely among ethnic lines, and this is the heart of Dinka land.

Our annual memorial Mass to celebrate the lives and work of deceased Irish Jesuit missionaries and volunteers took place at the Gonzaga College Chapel on Sunday 4 November 2018. We had a great turnout of family and friends who participated in this lovely celebration of the lives of our deceased missionaries. In particular we remembered those men who had passed away this year; Fr Joseph Mallin, Fr Harold Naylor (Hong Kong) and Fr John Moore ( Zambia/Malawi Province and ex Prof of Botany UCD).

Irish Jesuit, Fr Michael Kelly SJ, was conferred with The Order of Distinguished Service by Zambian President Edgar Lungu, in State House, Lusaka on 24th October.

Fr Harold Naylor SJ died peacefully in Hong Kong on 4 October, 2018 at the age of 87. He is the third Irish Jesuit missionary to have passed away this year. His funeral takes place at Saint Ignatius Chapel, Wah Yan College secondary school in Hong Kong on 11 October, 2018.