SOUTH SUDAN: Bishop of Malakal Thrilled by Pope Francis’ Concern for the People in his Diocese
Bishop Stephen Nyodho of Malakal Catholic Diocese, South Sudan
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Upon receiving financial aid from Pope Francis to support the people affected by floods in South Sudan’s Malakal Diocese, Bishop Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwok has appreciated the concern of his Holiness terming the action a “gesture of love.”
Sharing with AMECEA Online in an interview Thursday, October 7, after Pope Francis donated US$ 75,000.00 (Seventy-five thousand US Dollars) to the Diocese, Bishop expressed his sentiments towards the support saying, “As a diocese, we are really joyful and thrilled with this fatherly gesture of the Holy Father in answering to the prayers of the flood affected victims in the Diocese of Malakal…We are grateful and appreciate this gesture of love.”
“This is a great manifestation of closeness, a sign of charity and concern of the Mother Church to all her children dispersed all over the world. It is a manifestation of his big heart for the suffering people in the Diocese of Malakal and the whole South Sudan,” Bishop Nyodho expressed his gratitude on behalf of the people of God in the Diocese during the Thursday interview.
The Prelate who has been at the helm of Malakal Diocese since 2019, narrated that the Pontiff has been journeying closely with the people of South Sudan and has “special concern” for them always praying for “peace and tranquility to prevail.”
“It is not a surprise from the Holy Father and is not the first time for him to give financial assistance. He has done it several times for South Sudan, but this time it came directly to the Diocese of Malakal,” the Prelate disclosed to AMECEA Online and continued, “The people of South Sudan are dear to the heart of the Holy Father, they have suffered so long from human made disasters and now also a natural Disaster is devastating their lives.”
As he promised to visit the country, the South Sudanese prelate said, “The people of God in the Diocese of Malakal are eagerly waiting for his historical visit to the new country South Sudan.”
He recalls that the Pope “kissed the feet of the leaders of South Sudan (President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar) a gesture of his deep love for a country devastated by the wars.”
Asked how the Diocese which is geographically the largest of the seven dioceses in South Sudan will ensure that flood victims get a portion of the Pope’s donation Bishop Nyodho said, “Through the Diocesan Caritas office, the Diocese of Malakal will ensure the safe distribution of food or Non-Food Items to the flood victims in the areas that will be designated in coordination with the parish priests and the parish Caritas committees.”
Besides, he added in reference to how the beneficiaries will receive the support, “Through the office of the Bishop, the Diocese will make sure that victims are assisted in this difficult situation with whatever we can afford.”
Narrating the enormity of the effect of floods in Malakal Diocese, the Local Ordinary disclosed how parishes and pastoral work has been affected and the effort clerics are making to continue administering to the people.
“Two of our parishes are already being evacuated. The church and parish premises of Our Lady of Sorrows’ in Tonga is invaded by water. The priest has to use the canoe to access the higher areas where people have moved to celebrate the mass in the open air,” Bishop Nyodho underscores and continues, “The main church is taken by water and has become an accommodation for reptiles. The Guardian Angels’ Parish of Lul is also being evacuated. The parish priest is thinking to follow the people to higher grounds.”
“Hundreds of chapels in the whole Diocese are destroyed by floods. The majority of rural parish communities are pastoralists. They lost hundreds of their cattle and also their crops. As a result, there is looming hunger in the coming months,” he narrated the impact of floods highlighting that “Many health facilities are destroyed or taken by the water and there are already reports on waterborne diseases that need more and quick intervention by both government and the NGOs.”
The South Sudanese Prelate shared further that the region has been experiencing continued floods since 2019 and the Diocese has been making efforts through partners and well-wishers to offer assistance.
“Last August, the office of the Bishop appealed to the Holy Father through the South Sudan Nunciature, to partners and the Bishops’ Conference to raise the alarm on this natural disaster silently affecting millions of people,” he said.
In addition through Caritas South Sudan, Comboni Missionaries German Province, South Sudanese communities in Australia, Norwegian Church Aid and other well-wishers, the Diocese has managed meet some of the needs of the victims.
