The Film That Became a Movement
Saving Lives in Sudan
When President Omar Al-Bashir ordered the relentless bombing of the citizens of his own country in the Nuba mountains of Sudan, Dr. Tom Catena was on the ground, one doctor serving 700,000 patients. When a ceasefire was agreed to and the bombing stopped, Dr. Tom stayed, to serve the people who have put their faith and their hope in him.
Telling the Story
A college friend of Dr. Tom’s, filmmaker Kenneth A. Carlson navigated armed militia in Sudan to tell the story. Internationally acclaimed and award-winning, The Heart of Nuba, is now available through Hulu, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Sony, Xbox and in public libraries via Hoopla. It has raised more than $600,000 for medicine, vaccinations, supplies and crucial training of Sudanese staff to support Dr. Tom’s critical, life-saving work.
Recent News:
Annual Amsterdam 5K Run/Walk raises funds for Mother of Mercy
The 8th annual Thanks4Giving 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Walk in Amsterdam, New York, was held Thursday, with 246 participants. The run, in Dr. Tom's home town, raises funds for their local hero, Dr. Tom Catena, and Mother of Mercy Hospital. read article
Newsweek: Why an American Doctor Remained in War-Torn Sudan
Should happiness be the focus of one's life, or something deeper? Tom Catena, a doctor for 14 years in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan — a desolate, rebel-held area that was bombed repeatedly from 2011 until 2018 by the Khartoum government when Omar al-Bashir was...
Dr. Tom Catena Receives Honorary Doctorate from Duke University
One of the highlights of the commencement ceremony is the awarding of honorary degrees to individuals for outstanding accomplishments and service the world. This year, President Vincent Price conferred bestowed degrees upon a medical missionary, a scientist turned...
A Chance to Give Back, by Tom Catena
This coming March, we, at the Mother of Mercy Hospital, will celebrate our fourteenth year of operation. We are located in rebel-held territory in the remote region of the Nuba Mountains in the southern part of the Sudan. Even though there is currently a ceasefire...
Dr. Tom on Events in Sudan
Dr. Tom Catena emailed Kennth Carlson (Director of The Heart of Nuba) today and spoke briefly about the current events, and coup, in Sudan. As usual, he is walking with a steadfast vision forward, to the job at hand, taking changes in stride as he continues to focus...
Aurora Prize Awards Presentation
The $1.1 million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity honors unsung heroes working to preserve human life at great personal risk. Dr. Tom Catena was the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate. In 2018, in addition to his ongoing responsibilities as Medical Director of the...
Video Update from Dr. Tom
Dr. Tom sent us a short video update from his phone, with some warm words for The Heart of Nuba and the network that has gathered around the film and provided invaluable support for the hospital. Enjoy.
Update from Dr. Tom in Nuba
Hello from rainy Nuba. Finally getting some good rain on this end after a dry start. Nasima spent the day planting peanuts. Francis is in a neighboring village this week visiting his cousins. He thinks he’s a big man now but he doesn’t realize...
Aurora Foundation Launches New Global Initiative
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has launched its new program, the Aurora Community, to actively support the program members by connecting them with each other in accordance with their area of intervention, encouraging them to exchange their knowledge, and promoting...