Tribute to Sister Veronika Racková, SSpS killed in South Sudan

Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Friends,

We thank you for sharing in our grief, in the past days, at the painful and tragic loss of Sister Veronika, Theresia Racková, SSpS.

Sr Veronika was born in Slovakia on 8th January 1958. She made her first vows in the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit in 1987 and final vows in 1994. She was a medical doctor with specialization in tropical diseases. She has worked as a missionary in Ghana. She served as Provincial Leader of the Province of Slovakia from 2004-2010. Upon completing her term as Provincial Leader, she was assigned to Yei, South Sudan in 2010, thereby pioneering the SSpS mission in that place. From 2010 to 2016, until her death, she has served in various capacities as SSpS community leader, medical doctor and Director of St Bakhita Health Center, Yei. Sr Veronika was a committed, generous and joyful missionary.

Around midnight of 15 May 2016, Sr Veronika was returning, after taking a patient on an emergency call to Harvest Hospital, Yei, when she was attacked by suspected group of soldiers. The St Bakhita Health Center Ambulance that she was driving, was shot several times and Sr Veronika was gravely wounded on the hip and in the abdomen.

After two surgeries in the Hospital for Women and Children in Yei, she was airlifted to Nairobi Hospital in Kenya on Monday 16th May for further treatment and surgeries.

Despite the best efforts of the doctors, she passed away on Friday, 20th May 2016. Her death is an irreparable loss for us, for her family and for the people she served especially in Yei.

A Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated on Monday, 23 May in Nairobi.

We sincerely thank all of you who have expressed your solidarity and support through your condolence messages. It is our hope and prayer that the self-giving of Sr Veronika will herald a new beginning for peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.

SSpS Communication Office

Sr Marides SSpS - Communication Coordinator
Sr Mary John SSpS - Assistant General