SOUTH SUDAN: Cardinal Zubeir Reminds Priests of Their Call to Be Pastors of God’s People at Consecration of New Bishop of Wau Diocese
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
During Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Mathew Remijio Adam Gbtiku in Wau Diocese, South Sudan, Archbishop Emeritus of Sudan’s Khartoum Archdiocese, Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako has reminded the clergy of their calling to lead people to God.
Speaking during the Sunday, January 24, event where he was the main celebrant, Cardinal Zubeir told the clergy, “You have been chosen like an elder brother to be in the midst of Christians, lift them up. You will have your failures but there is nobody who continues failing, you will be required to pick yourselves up and keep proclaiming the Gospel.”
My brother priests, the Cardinal continues in his homily, “You are staying in this house (of God) not because you have no house to go to, but because you are priests called to lead the people of God.”
The Prelate underscored the need of priests refreshing their knowledge to be relevant in delivery, serve the Church effectively and be good leaders.
“A stupid priest is a stupid pastor, he cannot lead people,” the Cardinal lamented and urged the clergy, “Keep updating yourselves, go back to your Theology and live it.”
Speaking during the event on behalf of the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Presidential Advisor and Special Envoy Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin told the congregants that the new Bishop has a great role in the Church and in the diocese of Wau.
“The new Bishop will have a great responsibility in this Church, to plant love where there is hatred, preach forgiveness where there is conflict, bring hope where there is despair and, above all, plant peace where there is war” the former and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the Cabinet of South Sudan Dr. Marial said.
He added, “The Church is not only a place for worship but it is an institution of love, unity, social harmony and above all a place where we come to discover our identity, our potentials, and indeed of compassion. We are sure Bishop Mathew Remijio will follow the footsteps of the former Bishops.”
The Presidential Advisor and Special Envoy also acknowledged Pope Francis’ peace initiative for South Sudan referencing the gesture he showed to President Salva Kiir and the opposition leader Riek Machar during their Rome visit in 2019 saying, “In many years, the Catholic Church has been propagating and encouraging the government to bring peace in our country. His Holiness Pope Francis has shown us love… and did what he has never done to any person in this world.”
“We are now in talks with the opposition and who is behind that? It is Pope Francis himself!” he disclosed and added, “We are now being engaged by a Catholic organization with a presence in 70 countries around the world.”
The government representative urged Church leaders to help in the proper upbringing of upright children in the fast-changing society.
“We would like to see the Church teaching our children good morals and Christian values so that they keep away from bad things (since) our societies have changed,” Dr. Marial said calling for continued partnerships between government and the Church.
He further appreciated the effort of the Catholic Church in bringing unity the in country especially with the government and encouraged the Church leaders to continue improving the image of the country internationally.
Dr. Marial called on the newly ordained Bishop of Wau Diocese Rt. Rev. Remijio to do his best with the spirit of uniting the people of South Sudan.
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Remijio, a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) as the Local ordinary of Wau diocese in November 2020.
