SOUTH SUDAN: Celebrating the life of an Icon; Archdiocese of Juba pays Homage to the Late Bishop Gasi
|
| The Late Bishop Joseph Gasi |
A hundred pilgrims
have travelled from the Archdiocese of Juba to Tombura- Yambio Diocese to pay
homage to the late Bishop Joseph Abangite Gasi, emeritus of Tombura Yambio
Diocese who died last December.
have travelled from the Archdiocese of Juba to Tombura- Yambio Diocese to pay
homage to the late Bishop Joseph Abangite Gasi, emeritus of Tombura Yambio
Diocese who died last December.
The pilgrims
led by Fr. Thomas Igga, the Parish Priest of St. Teresa Cathedral Juba, have arrived
in Yambio on Friday 13th. March 2015.
led by Fr. Thomas Igga, the Parish Priest of St. Teresa Cathedral Juba, have arrived
in Yambio on Friday 13th. March 2015.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News from Juba, Bishop
Santo said that due to pastoral commitments, he was not able to join the
pilgrims who will stay in Yambio till Monday 16th. “Upon their
arrival the pilgrims met with the State Governor before they had briefings from
Rt. Rev. Edwardo Hiiboro, Bishop of Tombura Yambio Diocese. On Saturday 14th they will hold a
prayer at the burial site of the late Bishop Gasi and then on Sunday a thanks
giving Mass will be celebrated,” he said.
Santo said that due to pastoral commitments, he was not able to join the
pilgrims who will stay in Yambio till Monday 16th. “Upon their
arrival the pilgrims met with the State Governor before they had briefings from
Rt. Rev. Edwardo Hiiboro, Bishop of Tombura Yambio Diocese. On Saturday 14th they will hold a
prayer at the burial site of the late Bishop Gasi and then on Sunday a thanks
giving Mass will be celebrated,” he said.
The Late
Bishop who was the first Bishop of the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio was one of the
oldest Bishops who took over from the Missionaries as a native of Sudan. “Bishop
Gasi was among the first natives of Sudan to be ordained a Bishop for Sudan and
South Sudan,” Said Bishop Santo.
Bishop who was the first Bishop of the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio was one of the
oldest Bishops who took over from the Missionaries as a native of Sudan. “Bishop
Gasi was among the first natives of Sudan to be ordained a Bishop for Sudan and
South Sudan,” Said Bishop Santo.
He described
the late Bishop as an Icon not only to the Catholic Church in South Sudan but
to the whole country. “Bishop Gasi played a big role in the establishment of
the Church in South Sudan. He also
played a big role in the formation of Sudan Council of Churches which is now
called South Sudan Council of Churches. He is a figure that we really feel proud
to be associated with,” he said.
the late Bishop as an Icon not only to the Catholic Church in South Sudan but
to the whole country. “Bishop Gasi played a big role in the establishment of
the Church in South Sudan. He also
played a big role in the formation of Sudan Council of Churches which is now
called South Sudan Council of Churches. He is a figure that we really feel proud
to be associated with,” he said.
According to
Bishop Santo, the late Bishop Gasi spearheaded the PALICA (Pastoral, Liturgical
and Catechetical) Program which is the Pastoral program in the Dioceses of both
Sudan and South Sudan. “He was among those who actually established a center
for PALICA.
Bishop Santo, the late Bishop Gasi spearheaded the PALICA (Pastoral, Liturgical
and Catechetical) Program which is the Pastoral program in the Dioceses of both
Sudan and South Sudan. “He was among those who actually established a center
for PALICA.
“The late
Bishop is also outstanding among the youth for education, as he established a
number of schools and was an ardent advocate of education for young people,”
Bishop Santo added.
Bishop is also outstanding among the youth for education, as he established a
number of schools and was an ardent advocate of education for young people,”
Bishop Santo added.
Bishop Santo
explained that the Archdiocese of Juba was not able to participate fully in his
burial of Bishop Gasi due to transport problems at that time because the roads
were closed. “Only two people went that is I and a lay representative. The larger
Christian Community in the Archdiocese of Juba were feeling in an African
setting, that they needed to visit the burial place of a man they consider a
great leader and an Icon and so the pilgrimage was organized” Bishop Santo
explained.
explained that the Archdiocese of Juba was not able to participate fully in his
burial of Bishop Gasi due to transport problems at that time because the roads
were closed. “Only two people went that is I and a lay representative. The larger
Christian Community in the Archdiocese of Juba were feeling in an African
setting, that they needed to visit the burial place of a man they consider a
great leader and an Icon and so the pilgrimage was organized” Bishop Santo
explained.
The
Archdiocese of Juba shares a territorial border with the Diocese of
Tombura-Yambio and according to Bishop Santo; the majority of Christian
Community in Juba are from Tombura-Yambio and identify so much with the late
Bishop.
Archdiocese of Juba shares a territorial border with the Diocese of
Tombura-Yambio and according to Bishop Santo; the majority of Christian
Community in Juba are from Tombura-Yambio and identify so much with the late
Bishop.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online
News
News
