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:
“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:
Sudan: George Clooney and John Prendergast in Washington Post
Press From George Clooney and John Prendergast, of coalition member Enough! Project, on events in Sudan: "..Though [former military leader] Burhan has said the military council would name a civilian prime minister and cabinet, he has not committed to...
A Message from Dr. Tom on Events in Sudan
Sudan News "April 11th, 2019 will hopefully be a big day in Sudanese history as it was the day that dictator Omar al-Bashir and his henchmen were removed from power after a 30 year reign of terror. He has presided over 3 separate bloody civil...
Sudan: HRW on What Needs to Happen Next
Press FROM OUR COALITION MEMBERS: "The end of Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year rule provides a momentous opportunity for Sudan to put respect for human rights and rule of law at the center of its transition, Human Rights Watch said today. Sudan’s authorities...
Video: Children of Nuba
Some of the young lives saved by Dr. Tom Catena, as he talks of the need for a humanitarian corridor...