By Gladys Fred Kole
Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan are in the Western Bahr-El-Ghazal state capital, Wau, ahead of Eucharistic Congress celebrations.
The first group of Catholic bishops, led by His Eminence Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, arrived in Wau yesterday, November 16, 2023.
The Catholic clergy and congregation are converging in Wau for the launch of the Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee of the Hierarchy, which are due to take place on November 26 at St. Mary’s Help of Christians Cathedral, Wau.
The Eucharistic Congress in the Catholic Church is a celebration in which the Christians celebrate the presence of Christ in their midst and thank him for being their good shepherd throughout the course of their lives.
It is also an important moment to thank God the Father for loving them so much that He sent his Son to nourish, guide, and save them from the dominion of Satan.
Prior to the launch of the Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Hierarchy, the bishops will carry out three days of animation programs in the parishes and their annual plenary meeting.
Cardinal Ameyu said, apart from the twin celebrations, to share the joy of the people of South Sudan, who have been blessed with the gift of a new Cardinal for South Sudan.
“The office of a Cardinal is for the Church, and it is a recognition of the faith and resilience of the people who continue to hope for peace,” he added.
The Prelate concluded by calling the Catholic Diocese of Wau the land of the grandmother, referring to its importance in the establishment of the Catholic faith in South Sudan.
Cardinal Ameyu thanked the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wau and the entire community for the warm welcome they received.
The Prelate served as an Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Wau before the consecration of Rt. Rev. Matthew Remijo.
Cardinal Ameyu concluded the welcome ceremony by bestowing blessings on all those present.
In a statement seen by this outlet, the Catholic Bishop of Malakal diocese, Mgr. Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwok appealed to the faithful to join in this historic event and to consecrate ourselves and our country to Christ the King.
According to him, this opportunity must be seized for the church and the people of Sudan and South Sudan to come together as one family to pray for their problems and for the country.
“We have agreed to celebrate the Eucharistic Congress to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the local Church in Sudan and the Hierarchy of South Sudan,” announced Mgr. Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwok, Bishop of Malakal and President of the Eucharistic Congress in Sudan and South Sudan.
Bishop Nyodho added that the two celebrations will take place over the course of a year with the theme ‘One Body and One Spirit in Christ’.
The local bishops will organize special celebrations within the year to prepare the faithful for the final closing of the Eucharistic Congress.
The opening of the Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee of the Hierarchy will take place in the Diocese of Wau on November 26, 2023, and the closing of the Eucharistic Congress will be celebrated in the Archdiocese of Juba on November 24, 2024.
However, the bishops were received at Wau Airport by His Lordship Mathew Remijio, government officials, and thousands of Christians and people who lined up along the road up to the Catholic Cathedral.
They include Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, the Bishop of Tombura-Yambio; Rt. Stephen Nyodho Ador, the Bishop of Malakal; Rt. Santo Loku Pio, the Auxiliary Bishop of Juba Archdiocese; and a number of priests.