SOUTH SUDAN: Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat Introduces Weekly Mass for Staffs
Ginaba Lino
On Thursday May 26, 2022, the South Sudan Bishops’ Catholic Secretariat has introduced weekly Holy Eucharist for the staffs working within the Conference.
Speaking during the meeting, Fr. Peter Suleiman Secretary General for Sudan and South Sudan states that if all staff take the celebration of the Eucharistic seriously, it will be part of their lives and it will be their strength.
“Once prayer captures our attention, it will be part of our life and it will be our strength. But if we are not committed, unless with the exception of a strong reason, then it will not make itself. I hope what we have decided here is an individual decision that I will commit myself to attending Mass every Monday.”
Fr. Suleiman called on each and every staff member to take the Eucharistic mass seriously once it starts by next week, citing that the Archbishop of Juba Archdiocese Stephen Martin Ameyu will be the main celebrant during the opening of the mass.
“So, I’m grateful and I hope what we have discussed here is be taken seriously and with the opinion maybe we can invite the Archbishop to open the start of the mass so that he can bless you as we are introducing this Eucharistic mass at Bishops’ conference.”
The secretary General for the conference said it’s an obligation for the staff who are working at the Secretariat to be attending the Mass because it’s a Catholic institution.
According to the meeting, all the staffs agreed for the mass to be every Monday from 9:00 AM Central African time and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist will be taking place at St. Michael Chapel opposite the secretariat.
The staff said by having the Holy Eucharist on Monday, it will give them strength to guide them from the beginning of the week till the next week.
The Secretariat formed a team that will be leading in singing during the mass as well as responsible for selecting people for readings.
On March 14, 2022, the metropolitan Archbishop of Juba Archdiocese Stephen Ameyu Martin Mula urged the new Deputy Secretary General for Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference to introduce Eucharistic celebration at list once in a week so that they can ask for God’s strength and guidance within the week.
In his speech which he delivered during the farewell party of the Deputy Secretary General on March 14, the Archbishop said: “You need to introduce Eucharistic mass here at the Secretariat because a Catholic Institution like this cannot be without Mass or prayer at least once in a month.”
He strongly urged secretary General and his deputy to immediately put the issue of Eucharistic celebration in to practice.
