SOUTH SUDAN: Catholic Church Opens Peace Centre in Juba
Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, Most Rev Charles Daniel Balvo, (3rd from right) with the Bishops of South Sudan
By AMECEA Online News Correspondent
The Religious Superiors Association of South Sudan have finally opened a peace Centre in Kit, located a few kilometres outside Juba Town.
Most Rev Charles Daniel Balvo,
(3rd from right) with the Bishops
of South Sudan
The centre whose main purpose is to provide human, pastoral and spiritual formation, peace building and trauma healing for South Sudanese, was officially blessed and opened by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, H.E. Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, assisted by the Archbishop of Juba, three other Bishops, an Apostolic Administrator and a large number of Diocesan and Religious priests from across the country.
According to the press statement sent to AMECEA Online News, Rev. Fr. Daniele Moschetti, MCCJ, President of the Religious Superiors’ Association in South Sudan (RSASS), said that the project which was initiated two years ago and was officially launched by the Archbishop of Juba, Most Rev. Paulino Lukudu Loro on 11th October 2014 is “both a gift and a sign of hope for the future in these troubled times.”
He described the completion of the centre a remarkable achievement given the conflict within the country and the difficulty it posed in bringing in materials and employing a capable workforce.
“The project has been built within budget, with most of the funds donated by Italian and German Catholic charities as well as some international NGOs. The land was leased from the St Martin de Porres Brothers and also financially supported by several Catholic Religious Congregations present in South Sudan.”
The centre has forty, en-suite bedrooms each capable of accommodating two beds and a youth hostel that can accommodate sixty people. The facility also has spacious conference and dining rooms, a central chapel and many seminar rooms and outdoor tukuls, and it stands on a peaceful site near the Kit river. it is expected that this quality, purpose-built facility will be a very positive force in the search for peace in South Sudan. The simple but profound message above the chapel entrance says: ‘Be at Peace’.
According to the press statement, the initial staff who will serve the Centre include a South Sudanese Comboni Priest, two members of Solidarity with South Sudan – a Vincentian priest from the Philippines, and a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from the USA; other members of staff include a Jesuit priest from Rwanda and a St Martin De Porres Brother from Uganda. The diversity of nationalities of the staff members is intended to show an example of living in unity in diversity and is in itself a message to South Sudan in working together in fraternity for a common vision and future.
Fr. Moschetti who is also the Provincial of the Comboni Missionaries, gave special thanks to all who have contributed to the achievement of the centre which he described as a common dream for the people of South Sudan. In a special way, he thanked the Supervising Engineer, Br Hans Eigner and the Building Contractor, Mr. Robert Andama for their energy and commitment to quality while completing the large centre in 17 months.
Tribute was also paid to both the Christian and Muslim workers, Ugandan and South Sudanese, who worked side by side with respectful harmony to complete the Centre which is open to people of all faiths.
Fr. Moschetti said that the completion of the Centre is an indication that a lot can be achieved against the odds. “It is a gift of hope for the people of South Sudan, especially for all who will receive formation from this centre. It is also a great sign from the religious and the Local Church that the Catholic Church is concretely committed for peace, justice and reconciliation in the country through their personnel and structures.”
A crowd or more than 800 people, including several ambassadors and local dignitaries, attended the joyful occasion of blessing and opening of the centre.
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