SOUTH SUDAN: Episcopal Ordination Date of Bishop-elect for Rumbek Diocese Announced

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect for Rumbek Diocese Monsignor Christian Carlassare has been slated for next month Sunday, May 23.

“Consecration of the new Bishop will be in Rumbek on May 23^rd, 2021, on the Solemnity of Pentecost,” reads an excerpt of the statement signed by the Secretary General of Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference (SSSBC) Fr. Peter Suleiman Botis and addressed to Church leaders.

The statement reads further, “The main celebrant will be Archbishop Richard Paul Gallagher, the Secretary for relations with States assisted by concelebrants; Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba Archdiocese and Bishop Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwak” the Local Ordinary of Malakal Diocese where Msgr. Carlassare has been serving as the Vicar General prior to his appointment.

Pope Francis appointed Msgr. Carlassare, a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) on Monday, March 8, for Rumbek diocese that has been vacant for nearly a decade after the death of Bishop Cesare Mazzolari in 2011.

Addressing the people of God on behalf of the President of SSSBC Bishop Tombe Trille Kuku, the Secretary General acknowledged the appointment of four Prelates in a span of two years for the dioceses that have been vacant in South Sudan.

“The Holy Father, in a period of two years (2021-2021) has appointed four (4) new Bishops for the vacant Dioceses in South Sudan; that is Bishop Stephen Ameyu Marin Mulla of the Diocese of Torit who was later installed as the Archbishop of Juba, Bishop Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwak as Bishop of Malakal and Bishop Matthew Remijio as the Bishop of Wau Diocese,” Very Rev. Suleiman said in the statement shared with AMECEA Online and continues, “We are grateful for the recent appointment of Rev. Fr. Christian as the new Bishop of Rumbek.”

He further appreciated the efforts of Msgr. Mark Kadima the Vatican’s Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in South Sudan, “for finding fitting Shepherds to the vacant dioceses” and also thanked the Holy Father for his love and concern to the Country.

“We continue praying for his (Pope) good health in this difficult time of Covid-19 pandemic,” He implored.

The Italian-born Bishop-elect was ordained to priesthood 16 years ago and has been in South Sudan since 2005 serving in various capacities including among others being a parish priest, vocations promoter and provincial councilor of the Comboni Missionaries.