SOUTH SUDAN: Current political situation challenges pastoral plans says Archbishop Lukudu

The current political and economic situation has given the Catholic Church in South Sudan a challenge to plan pastoral activities.

Speaking during the opening of South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ meeting in Juba on Monday, The President of the South Sudan’s Catholic Bishops (SSCB) Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro stressed that the conflict has affected the great role the Church plays in the country.

“There is no fuel to facilitate transport of pastoral agents and roads are very poor all over the nation,” he said.

The metropolitan Archbishop of South Sudan has therefore called on Catholic Church leaders countrywide to seriously support genuine initiatives to bring peace in the country advising fellow leaders to face challenges with patience and strength.

Archbishop Lukudu urges fellow Bishops and Apostolic Administrators to deliver services in various dioceses with responsibility and discuss how to plan for their pastoral activities. South Sudan’s Catholic Bishops meeting is expected to conclude on Wednesday with resolutions on the current situation in the country and other pastoral activities.

Meanwhile, the Emeritus Bishop of Torit Catholic Diocese Rt. Rev. Paride Taban on Monday arrived in Tombura Yambio to join Christians in celebrating the third anniversary of the late Bishop Joseph Gasi Abangite.

According to Radio Anisa, Bishop Taban revealed that,  he has been longing to touch the tomb of his brother to get  blessings and more strength as he pray for lasting peace, justice, love and respect for one another in South Sudan.

He confirmed that the church is after equality to be one family as brothers and sisters urging Christians to ensure that they are always closer to Jesus.

In that regard, Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio thanked Bishop Taban for accepting to participate in the third anniversary of Bishop Gasi. Bishop Gasi died on September 13, 2014 in Yambio.

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Source: CRN