James Atanasious’ life is living proof of his conviction: hope will prevail, and faith, no matter where it’s planted, can grow into something beautiful. This is his faith journey.
From the crowded East African refugee camp where he learned the power of community, to Western Sydney — where he now advocates for the vulnerable as the Peace, Justice, and Ecology Facilitator for the Diocese of Parramatta — James’ journey has been one of resilience, service, and unwavering belief.
A Calling Formed in the Camps
Born in South Sudan, James fled with his family to northern Uganda during the brutal civil war. They settled in the Adjumani refugee camp, a sprawling settlement of more than 200 languages, where drought, starvation, limited healthcare and little access to education defined daily life.
Faith became the family’s anchor. His mother, a leader in the local Catholic Action group, organised prayer meetings, led the Rosary, visited the sick, arranged baptisms and worked closely with catechists. His father, a former seminarian, supported her pastoral work and handled the paperwork.
James (back left) and his brother David (back right), and sisters Karine and Grace (left to right) at the Adjumani refugee camp, Uganda, on a Christmas Day. Image: Supplied.
At just 12 years old, James was deeply involved in parish life, singing in the choir, cleaning the church and helping other young people keep the faith community vibrant.
“Deep down, I always knew God was caring, loving, and the source of hope.”
That hope was nurtured by priests and seminarians in the camp. Their witness left such a mark that, after arriving in Australia, James entered the seminary for a time before discerning a different path. Looking back, he sees clearly that social justice had been the foundation of his vocation from the beginning.
‘I can still smile’
James does not shy away from suffering. “The toughest thing for me has been seeing children die and losing close relatives, both here and overseas.” He admits there are times he asks God hard questions: Why does it happen? Why does it have to be so painful?
The answers don’t come directly or immediately. But he sees them in the quiet ways God sustains him.
“Despite the heavy load, I can still smile, wake up in the morning, go to work, help others, and inspire others. That in itself is the work of prayer.”
James at the Comboni Comprehensive College, in the Adjumani refugee camp, Uganda. Image: Supplied.
From Despair to Deliverance
James remembers the insecurity inflicted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, who once nearly kidnapped his sister from her boarding school. Still, his family clung to hope.
Support came from organisations like Jesuit Refugee Services and the Comboni Missionaries. In time, his eldest brother, Charles, reunited the family in Australia through a humanitarian visa, ending more than two decades of separation.
“It was a moment that reminded me God hears even the prayers that take decades to answer,” James said.
Arriving in Australia in 2004, James and his sister completed Years 11 and 12 in Hobart, supported by the generosity of a benefactor they never met. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Communication and, most recently, a Master of Theological Studies.
James Atanasious with Jesuit Refugee Services staff at the Parramatta Street Feast 2024. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta.
Serving Through Advocacy
For more than a decade, James worked in the community sector, helping vulnerable people find lasting solutions. Today, that commitment shapes his leadership of the Diocesan Journey Walking with Refugees and People Seeking Protection, coordinating partner agencies – Jesuit Refugee Service, CatholicCare, House of Welcome, Vinnies, and the Community Migrant Resource Centre – to support those most in need.
While these agencies provide frontline support, James focuses on advocacy for refugees, people experiencing homelessness and those living with disabilities. Recent arrivals to the Diocese have come from Syria, Gaza, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Diocesan food- and clothing-drives help meet urgent needs. “I try to do the best I can to support people, whether through advocacy or practical assistance,” he said, recalling the words of Matthew 25:35–40: “When you were hungry you fed me, when I was cold you clothed me.”
James with his children, Hannah and Matteo. Image: Supplied.
Faith That Keeps Walking
James draws strength from Bishop Paride Taban, founder of the Holy Trinity Peace Village in South Sudan, who taught that life’s trials can make us bitter or better; the choice is ours. He is equally inspired by Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s reminder that, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving.”
For James, the call of the Gospel is clear: stand with those on the margins, because he has been there too. “I always like to share my personal journey,” he says.
“My testimony can be hope for someone else, proof that what they see now is not the end. Things can change.”
His message is one of welcome: “The Church’s invitation has always been open to all. God’s welcome is unconditional. The best way to live that welcome is to serve in the Church and to live faithfully.
This article was originally published in the 2025 Season of Creation | Spring edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
