SOUTH SUDAN: “My Wish is Collaboration for Better Pastoral Work,” Bishop-Elect of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese
Bishop-elect of South Sudan's Wau Diocese
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Pope Francis on Wednesday November 18, appointed Fr. Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku, a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) the new Bishop of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese.
In an interview with AMECEA Online on Thursday, November 19, the Bishop-elect a native of South Sudan from Wau Diocese has appealed for collaboration to enhance pastoral work in the pastoral district.
“This appointment came as a surprise,” the Bishop-elect disclosed and narrated, “But I have taken it positively and it is my hope that we collaborate for better pastoral work in the diocese. Through mutual collaboration and understanding, a lot can be achieved.”
The Bishop-elect until this appointment was the assistant formator and bursar of the international theologate of the Comboni Missionaries in Nairobi, Kenya, for the past three years. He acknowledges that being familiar with the people of Wau, their language, their culture, and most of the priests in the diocese is an advantage as he begins the new mission.
Wau Diocese has been vacant since 6 Mar 2017, after the death of Bishop Rudolf Deng who served for over 20 years but has been under the leadership of Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla who was appointed its Apostolic Administrator in September 2020.
After the announcement of the appointment on November 16, the Comboni Missionaries Provincial Superior for Kenya Province Fr. Austine Radol in a message to his confreres asked them to pray for the Bishop-elect in his new mission saying, “We accompany him with our prayers in this new responsibility.”
According to Fr. Radol, the Bishop-elect loves the Church and the people of Wau are privileged for he is “a real pastor.”
The Provincial Superior said in an interview with AMECEA Online, “As much as the congregation needed his services, we understand that the Church is our Mother and when there is a call and a greater need, as sons of the Church this is our contribution.”
Fr. Radol underscored further, “South Sudan generally needs peace. I pray for my brother that he may be a source of reason and play the role of a midwife for peace, and that he may bring unity not only in Wau Diocese but also in the Church and the country.”
Responding to what might be a challenge ahead of his new ministry, the Bishop-elect Very Rev. Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku said, “Wau Diocese is part of South Sudan and that means a diocese that has undergone many years of wars, instabilities and pastoral disorientation. The priests and Religious are few yet pastoral work is enormous. This is already a great challenge on how to fill the pastoral gap hence we need more Church institutions in the diocese.”
Very Rev. Gbitiku who had worked in the Archdiocese of Khartoum, Sudan as Vocations Director of the Archdiocese, Spiritual Director of St. Paul’s Major Seminary and Vicar General of the Archdiocese before moving to Kenya in 2017 has appreciated the patience of the people of Wau Diocese since the death of Bishop Deng and encouraged them to remain strong in faith.
He further narrated in appreciation to his congregation, “I am proud of my congregation and I am happy with my Superior for the trust and confidence in me. I ask for their continued support and prayers.”
The Bishop-elect was born on 5, May 1972 in Mboro in Wau Diocese, he was ordained a deacon in Lima, Peru on 18, November 2003 and priest on 3, October 2004, in Wau Diocese.
