ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Seeds of Wisdom is a nonprofit organization, in partnership with the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester, that works to provide education for the children of South Sudan refugees in Uganda.
“The people have known war almost all their life,” Fr. Jerry Mahon with St. John said. “Before they became the youngest country in the world, South Sudan had war for years and years. These parents of the children know the pain of war.”
According to Seeds of Wisdom, its roots date back to the 2010s when Fr. John Lasuba from Pukuka, South Sudan, joined the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Inspired by the pastor’s story, donations through the church’s parishioners helped establish a primary school in his hometown in 2015; however, civil unrest in the country forced residents to flee to refugee camps in Uganda in 2017.
To continue the support, Seeds of Wisdom said a primary school was re-established in the camps, now educating 325 students. Fr. Mahon said there are challenges in helping students receive secondary boarding school education.
“If you have four children, only one of them can go on to middle and high school,” Fr. Mahon said. “I think that is a really sad reality, so I want to change that.”
Seventy-eight students are currently in secondary boarding school. Fr. Mahon plans to raise $500,000 to finance students who are currently on a waiting list.
“We have a benefit dinner and that is what takes care of the operations of the elementary education in the six refugee camps,” Fr. Mahon said. “The need is enormous and the beauty of education, of course, is what will change the lives of our South Sudanese people.”
In July 2025, Fr. Mahon retired after more than 50 years of ministry. He said he will preach at all the Masses at the Co-Cathedral this weekend to spread the word regarding the charity efforts.
“Fr. Bob, who is the rector, is very supportive of Seeds of Wisdom,” Fr. Mahon said. “He’s invited me to come back for this purpose.”
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