SUDAN: Bishop Macram of El Obeid, Sudan Laid to Rest “Temporarily” in USA

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

The late Bishop Emeritus of El Obeid Catholic Diocese, Sudan, Rt. Rev. Macram Max Gassis has been laid to rest temporarily, at Holy Cross Cemetery, St. Teresa Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, United States of America (USA), on Tuesday, June 13.

Members of Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference (SSSCBC) in their message shared with AMECEA Online prior to the burial, expressed that even though Bishop Gassis is to be buried in the US because of the ongoing conflicts in Sudan, it was his wish to be laid to rest next to his family in the country’s capital Khartoum.

“Honouring with obligation the wish of our beloved late spiritual father who desired humbly to be laid to rest next to his brothers, sisters and parents, and as the political situation in Khartoum makes his modest wishes impossible, the Ordinary of the Diocese concords with the relatives to lay him temporarily in US with Eucharistic celebration on Tuesday, June 13, with hope of peace and possible his return home to rest with his beloved brothers and parents,” the message of the bishops read in parts.

The Prelates, in the statement signed by the President of SSSCBC, Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali of El Obeid Diocese, Dioceses in the Northeastern Africa country will arrange with the parishes and celebrate the life of the Bishop with relatives and friends.

In an interview with Bishop Tombe about the temporal burial of the member of Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) who served in El Obeid for about three decades, “There will possibility to exhume the body and be taken to Sudan for re-burial in honor of his wish.”

Bishop Tombe who succeeded the late Prelate highlighted that even though it seems possible to exhume the body, they are not sure when this may happen, “But it all depends on how the conflicts in Sudan will end.”

He added that during the burial that took place in USA at 6:45pm CAT, the diocese of El Obeid and its parishes united in spirit with relatives during Eucharistic celebration. Meanwhile the conference has proposed the requiem Mass for Friday, June 30, at St. Teresa Cathedral in Juba, South Sudan.

The Church leaders in their statement eulogized Bishop Gassis as a committed and respectful leader in the conference.

“The late bishop was committed to ministerial formation and growth. He was respected and cherished for his leadership in the conference as he served with distinction for years,” the bishops said in their collective statement adding that the Church in Sudan still benefits from Bishop Gassis’ wisdom and generosity, especially “his liturgical, spiritual and administrative services in the Church.”

The bishops sent their condolences to all the relatives and friends of Bishop Gassis saying, “Please know that the conference is holding you in prayer for strength, comfort and peace, today and the days to come…. May you find peace and comfort at this time.”