SOUTH SUDAN: “Church Grows when Pastoral Agents Grow” Bishop of Rumbek to Priests

Ginaba Lino

The Catholic Bishop of Rumbek Diocese in South Sudan has called on priests and his fellow missionaries to double more effort in order to have well-formed pastoral agents among the lay people and catechists.

In a written letter seen by AMECEA to priests and missionaries across the diocese Rt. Rev. Christian Carlassare said it is not enough to have a good bishop and good priests, but fraternal charity.

“The church grows when the pastoral agents grow. It is not enough to have a good bishop and good priests. We must have well-formed pastoral agents among the lay people and catechists.”

Bishop Christian Carlassare urged priests and missionaries to give good care to the catechists who are lay pastoral agents for them to give adequate care to the Church in the respective communities.

“Do not clericalize the catechists. Care for the catechists. Form the lay pastoral agents to care adequately for the Church community.”

Bishop Caelassare appealed for training seminarians well to have good priests, citing that the goodness of a priest is not seen in what he knows.

“You must train seminarians well to have good priests. The goodness of a priest is not seen in what he knows.”

He stated that priests must strengthen four relationships which is the relationship with God in prayer, relationship with the bishop (and you do your part, call them regularly, be close to them), relationship among them (spiritual friendship and fraternal correction), and relationship with the holy people of God carrying their sufferings.

His Lordship believed that church cannot lead with ideas, citing that any ideology is not Catholic, it is pagan.

“You cannot lead the church with ideas. Any ideology is not Catholic, it is pagan. Tyrant bishops are of no use, let the people express themselves.”

The religious leader emphasized on synodal process which is an occasion to seek unity in the church through prayer and dialogue.

He explained that unity is not made when people aim to be all the same. Unity, but when there is communion in diversity.

“The synodal process is an occasion to seek unity in the church through prayer and dialogue. Unity is not made when we aim to be all the same. Unity comes when there is communion in diversity.”

Bishop Carlassare has appealed to priests and missionaries to take the risk to bring faith into the cultures of the people.

In order to overcome the causes of persecution, the inculturation of the faith is necessary joint to the evangelization of culture, “Bishop added.”

“Today, Christians suffer persecution in different forms. In order to overcome the causes of persecution, the inculturation of the faith is necessary joint to the evangelization of culture. Faith is not abstract; it must take flesh in a culture. So, we have to take the risk to bring faith into the cultures of the people.”

In the Same letter, the Bishop called on Africans to fight corruption because Corruption is a great problem.

He also explained that corruption is a great problem in the African continent, and in the world, urging on priests to fight against corruption.

“Corruption is a great problem in the African continent, and in the world. Fight against corruption. Corruption is the method of the powerful to dominate over the weak.”

He regrets few rich people control the world economy and many people go hungry.

“Poverty is a great wound in our world. Few rich people control the world economy and many people go hungry. Army industry gets too many funds and investments.”

The Bishop of Rumbek Diocese wrote the letter to his priests in the diocese and his fellow Missionaries.