SUDAN

The Patriarchal Vicariate of the Sudan has been in existence for nearly 100 years and has(d) eight churches and chapels. The church of the Annunciation (Khartoum), is still in use; the church of St. John the Apostle at Halfa, now submerged under the waters of the Nile since the construction of the Aswan Dam; the church of St. Michael at El Obbayed, at present used by the Latin Church; the church of Our Lady of the Dormition at Wad Midani, at present rented to Latin Church; and the church of St. George at Oum Dourman at present closed and out of use. Three chapels at Nouhoud, Fasher, and Atbara have been given to the Latin Church. 

Formerly, priests came from Egypt and Aleppo, taking turn to serve the parish. At present, one church is in use, that of Khartoum, with a parish priest resident there since Easter 1986. The Greek Catholic parishioners of Sudan have been regrouped at Khartoum and Syrian Catholics as well as Chaldeans came and joined them and now are part of the parish. At Khartoum there are nearly 200 Greek Catholic families, 50 Syrian, and 2 Chaldean families. Outside of Khartoum, there are about 15 families at Obayed and another 15 scattered here and there across the Sudan. 

Projects under consideration are the enlarging of the church in Khartoum and the construction of a building to provide revenue at Oum Dourman, both of which have been awaiting a priest in residence in order for them to be put into effect.