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 iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Sony, Xbox and in public libraries via Hoopla. It has raised more than $2.200,000 for medicine, vaccinations, supplies and crucial training of Sudanese staff to support Dr. Tom’s critical, life-saving work.
What now for Sudan?
Omar al-Bashir assumed power in Sudan in 1989 after leading a military coup to overthrow the sitting government. During that time al-Bashir directed the mass killing, rape, and pillage against Black African civilians in Darfur, with the goal of eliminating the Black population. He led a relentless bombing campaign against the citizens of the Nuba mountains, also Black Africans, targeting civilians, killing thousands, and destroying homes, schools, business, crops and more. In 2009, al-Bashir banned all humanitarian aid coming into Sudan, leaving his people starving, sick, dying, and subject to intensifying violence.
He has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, and rape), two counts of war crimes, and three counts of genocide.
Recent News:
“Heroic American Surgeon” Dr. Tom Earns Top Medical Missionary Award
Dr. Tom Catena has been honored with a top medical missionary award, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Catena will be presented with the Gerson L'Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service at an awards ceremony in New York City, April...
Special Screening of The Heart of Nuba in Yerevan, Armenia
The Heart of Nuba screened at the 2019 Impact Humanity Television and Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia in October. The film festival is produced under the umbrella of the Aurora Foundation. The Heart of Nuba received a ten minute standing ovation,...
Golf Event Raises more than $100,000 for Mother of Mercy Hospital
Steve Kettelberger, President of Blue Rock Construction in Philadelphia, and Dr. Tom first met while playing football at Brown University. In 2014, Steve joined Dr. Tom at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner where Dr. Tom was awarded the...
Dr. Tom, With Aurora Delegation, Receives Blessing from Pope Frances
On October 2, a delegation from the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative including Dr. Tom Catena received a special blessing from His Holiness Pope Francis during their visit to the Vatican. The visit was part of a wider trip from the group to Rome, during...
Nicholas Kristof: These Are Stories That Still Touch Me
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof travels around the U.S. and the world, shedding light on crises and unsung heroes. After 35 years at the Times, he compiled some of the work that is still particularly meaningful to him. Amid touching stories of...
Tom Catena in Fresno, CA for Aurora Prize Tour
In addition to caring for the people of the Nuba Mountains, this year, as the Aurora Prize Initiative Chair, Dr. Tom has been traveling and speaking about the Mother of Mercy Hospital and the Aurora Prize, conveying what the prize meant to him, and...
Dr. James Peck on Volunteering at Mother of Mercy Hospital
One of the gifts that has made it possible for Dr. Tom to travel and inspire others is having new doctors and surgeons do volunteer stints at Mother of Mercy Hospital, arranged through the long-term supporters of Mother of Mercy at the Catholic...
Tom Catena to Speak at the 2019 World Health Summit in Berlin, Oct 27-29
Dr. Tom Catena, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Chair and 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate, will participate as speaker at the 2019 World Health Summit to take place on October 27 to 29, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Dr. Catena will join leading healthcare experts and...
News from Sudan:
August 2018: A Message from Dr. Tom
We were so delighted to receive this message from Dr. Tom in August, from "the bush" of the Nuba mountains. Your participation and support has meant so much to him, and to the families of the Nuba mountains. Please continue. If you haven't yet donated,...
Sudan After Sanctions
Who is benefiting from the lifting of sanctions by the US?
John Prendergast to Testify Before House Africa Subcommittee
John Prendergast, Founding Director of the Enough Project and Co-Founder of The Sentry, will be testifying on Sudan before the U.S. Congress.
I was 11 when Omar al-Bashir came to power. Terror is all his people have ever known
For most people in Sudan, Omar al-Bashir is the only leader they have ever known, his 30-year rule defined by brutal oppression and astounding political survival. Under Bashir, an entire generation grew up in the shadow of war, where the threat of torture in...