Seeds of Wisdom in South Sudan
Supporting Students and Families from South Sudan through EducationA nonprofit organization, working in partnership with the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester, MN and the people of South Sudan, dedicated to the education of the children of Pukuka, Yei, South Sudan, with a focus on the development of educational opportunities emphasizing Catholic values, academic success and access to improved health care.
Benefit Dinner, Feature

Thank you for the contributions made enabling the success of our benefit dinner!

Web Team
7 January, 2026

2025 Seeds of Wisdom Benefit Dinner A Success!

Gratitude and appreciation are the sentiments we wish to convey to all of the participants, contributors, volunteers and sponsors of our 2025 Benefit Dinner for Seeds of Wisdom.

The 2025 Annual Seeds of Wisdom fund raising event this year was a twist on the benefit dinner we have offered to generous benefactors and supporters of the mission of Seeds of Wisdom over the years.   This was a great success for us raising $53,906 – slightly more than at last year’s event.   The smiles and energy of those who participated as welcomed guests, attendees, as well as volunteers, were part of the gift of the evening.   Everyone appeared to enjoy a wonderful evening.    Thank you to all that helped make this event happen through donations of time and support!

Special thanks to Premier Event Sponsor Victoria’s Ristorante and Wine Bar –  in Rochester who provided the amazing, delicious catered meal. We were very excited about the amazing sponsorship provided for this event from Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar, Events and Catering.  Victoria’s named ‘Best of the Best’ Award Winners in Rochester for 17 years (Rochester Post Bulletin).   Food for this benefit dinner was prepared by Victoria’s Staff at Events and Catering!

Thank you also to the Knights of Columbus  Council 1013 in Rochester, for contributing support for logistics and setup and take down of the event at the Parish School of St. John the Evangelist.

 

Benefit Dinner, Feature

Save the date! Benefit Dinner for Seeds of Wisdom – South Sudan. Oct 26th, 2025 @ 6:00 PM

Thomas Belda
4 July, 2025

Please consider saving the date Sunday Oct, 26th 2025  6:15 PM to attend the annual benefit fundraiser (Dinner event) to support the students and families from South Sudan that are in refugee camp schools in Uganda.

We are also very excited about the amazing sponsorship provided for this event from Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar, Events and Catering.  ‘Best of the Best’ Award Winners in Rochester for 17 years (Rochester Post Bulletin).   Food for the dinner will be prepared by Victoria’s Staff at Events and Catering!

Join us for inspiration, fellowship, food and fun!  We already have a number of exciting items for the auction and we are looking for more!   If you have an item you would like to donate for the Silent auction please contact Susie Foley at  sfoley@sj.org.   Baskets for the silent auction are needed by Friday October 10th.    If you have a service, or experience you can donate for this important fundraiser for the Live auction, please contact Thom Belda at belda.thomas@gmail.com

Thank you for your support!

Benefit Dinner, Feature

Progress on self sustaining farming for families of SOW students

Web Team
3 July, 2025

Our mission to educate Students from South Sudan continues to bear fruit despite many challenges. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most recently, famine has struck Sudan and South Sudan, creating what some are calling the most dangerous humanitarian crisis on earth today.   The effects are also being felt in the refugee camps for our students attending school in Uganda.  While we cannot buy enough food to feed all of our Seeds of Wisdom families, we were inspired by the old proverb, “Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”

With the help of our amazing administrator George, we were able to rent land at low cost to provide a quarter acre for each family to farm and grow food.  The people of Pukuka are skilled farmers and they should reap a harvest in a few months.   Hear more stories like this at our annual Seeds of Wisdom Benefit Dinner: October 26th, at 6:00 PM.  Join us for inspiration, fellowship, food and fun.   We already have a number of exciting items for the benefit Auction and are looking for more.

Feature, Student Stories!

Student’s Generosity Provides Christmas Magic

Thomas Belda
16 December, 2024

SEEDS OF WISDOM: STUDENTS’ GENEROSITY PROVIDES CHRISTMAS MAGIC

Catholic school students in Rochester Minnesota contributed nearly $3,000 to help procure Christmas presents for our Seeds of Wisdom students from South Sudan in Uganda.   Click on the images below to view full screen.

Teachers work to separate and sort new clothes that arrived for SOW Students.
Sorting and separating dresses and clothing for the students.
Matching sizes and sorting dresses for the students of SOW.
Pictures of gratitude and excitement for the girls who each received 2 dresses each.
Pictures of gratitude and excitement for the girls who each received 2 dresses each.
Teachers sorting clothing for SOW Students in Uganda
Trying on clothes and posing for pictures!
Gratitude and excitement from the students.
Smiles of appreciation from the SOW Students.
Bales of clothing purchased with funding provided by Students of Rochester Catholic Schools.
Photos of smiles and appreciation!

Saint John the Evangelist Middle School students in Rochester, Mn. raised nearly $1,000 in a Halloween costume dress up event, and Rochester Lourdes High School students raised $2,000 in a “dress down” casual day.  The money they raised went to purchase a Christmas gift of clothing for our Seeds of Wisdom students from South Sudan that are in refugee camps currently in Uganda. Each girl received two dresses and the boys received a pair of jean and a shirt. The five bales of clothing were distributed earlier this month. As you can see from the smiles, the gifts were much appreciated!

 

Feature

Thank you to all who contributed and donated in our recent fundraiser dinner!

Thomas Belda
11 November, 2024

SEEDS OF WISDOM BENEFIT DINNER A HUGE SUCCESS

Thank you to everyone that attended the Seeds of Wisdom benefit dinner on October 6th. It was a delightful evening with tasty food, good fellowship, inspiring song, and a tremendous display of generosity from the approximately 150 attendees. We raised just over $90,000- to help continue to fund our Seeds of Wisdom school operations. The top valued item in the live auction was once again Father Jerry’s hosted gourmet meal. Thank you to everyone who contributed an item for the silent and live auctions.

To all donors and attendees – thank you for your support. If you were unable to attend the benefit dinner but would still like to contribute, your donation will be most appreciated.

If you are interested in supporting our cause please consider donating to Seeds of Wisdom South Sudan.  Link available here.  https://www.sowsouthsudan.org/donate/

Thank you!

SOW South Sudan Board of Directors

 

Feature

SOW Board of Directors express thanks to all supporters and patrons at our annual fundraiser – Oct 6, 2024

Thomas Belda
12 October, 2024

Thanks to all those that donated items for the Silent Auction, Live Auction and those that contributed to the Fund A Need items identified for our students!   Also for all of those that attended the benefit dinner and bought tickets for the event!

1. Gourmet Dinner for eight hosted by Father Jerry Mahon.   Thank you for your Donation Monsignor Mahon! Enjoy a gourmet dinner for eight hosted and prepared by world famous chef, Father Jerry.

2. Return to Bennie’s Drive-in.  Thank you Kathy Carroll for your Donation!  Kathy Carroll, former owner of the famous Bennie’s Drive-in, will prepare a 30-pound batch of the much renowned Mexi Ground Beef using her proprietary recipe for your group. Buns will be included if desired. Market value – priceless!

3. Fashion Consultation with Trina Morris.   Thank you Trina for your donation!   As reported in the Post Bulletin, “If your wardrobe is feeling a little lackluster, look no further than to local fashion Instagrammer Trina Morris for some serious style inspo.” Trina will provide two one-hour consultation sessions to take your wardrobe to the next level.

4. Vikings-Packers Tickets Thank you Patrick Buss for your donation! Two tickets to the Vikings-Packers rivalry game that could easily have playoff implications on
Sunday, December 29 at US Bank Stadium.

5. Neapolitan Pizza Night.   Thank you for your Donation Chef Tony!   Enjoy an evening of Neapolitan pizza from Chef Tony for eight people. These pizzas feature
hand-crafted dough, scratch-made sauces and artisan toppings. It will be a night to gather friends and enjoy the best pizza in town!

6. Stained Glass Artwork – Thank you Artist Steve Flynn for your donation!  A beautiful original piece of stain-glass artwork created by local artist Steve Flynn.

7. Foursome of golf with Father Jerry at the Jewell Golf Course in Lake City!  Thank you Fr. Mahon for your donation!   Three players will join Father Jerry for eighteen holes of golf (with cart) at The Jewell Golf Course in Lake City.

 

Sincerely,

2024 SOW Board of Directors

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