SOUTH SUDAN: “The Church in Sudan Remains Empty as Conflict Scattered Faithful,” Archbishop Regrets
Archbishop Michael Didi Adgum Mangoria gives a sermon during Christmas morning mass at St Matthew's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Sudan's capital Khartoum on December 25, 2020. (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP) (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images)
Ginaba Lino
The Archbishop of Khartoum Catholic Archdiocese has regretted the continuous conflict of Sudan which has resulted in the evacuation of the faithful, leaving the churches empty around the country.
On 21 November 2023, the Archbishop of Sudan Most Rev. Michael Didi Adgum Mangoria said most of the faithful, priests and sisters in Sudan left the country due to the ongoing conflict between Sudan army Force and rapid force.
Archbishop Micheal Didi stated that the situation of believes in Khartoum is quite difficult, pointing out that many people left Khartoum city.
“The situation in the three cities of Khartoum is quite difficult, many people left Khartoum City especially the centre almost no one is there currently, but in some places like Hai Yousif people are still holding on.”
‘‘We have big community of Salesian Sisters and Fathers in Don-Bosco in Shajara Khartoum South they are still there with some people, whenever there is fighting, people run to the Sisters compound and remain there,’’ he added.
“In Hai Yousif there is one priest of St. Peter and Paul father Thomas Paul. He went there because his place was quite stressing and he is serving there, and then three priests left for Omdurman who are the Diocesan priests and joined by other Comboni missionary and they will be there until by the end of this month, after that I don’t know what might happened,” he continued.
Archbishop Michael Didi Adgum Mangoria said, his visit to Wau Catholic Diocese is to attend the Sudan and South Sudan Bishop Plenary as the Catholic Church of the two Countries remains as one.
‘‘So we are having our preliminary and meeting here in Wau which we are supposed to be in Khartoum, but unfortunately what is happing in Khartoum the war the situation there could not allow it to take place. So we brought it to Wau and join it together with the opening of Eucharist congress.’’
Didi Adgum Mangoria urged the people of Wau to be strong in faith because Bahr el Ghazal region is a Catholic area. According to history, the missionary district started in 1903 when the whole Bahr el Ghazal was given to Catholic with exception of Rumbek.
“You should be strong and I that is the message. Be strong could have many meanings and many implications but I say you keep up because Bahr El Ghazal in General is a Catholic area according to the missionary districts of 1903, the whole Bahr El Ghazal was given to the Catholics accept Rumbek and it was nicknamed as the Republic of the Catholics so you have to keep that in mind and show it in practice.”
The Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum on Tuesday November 21, 2023 landed in Wau a head Bishop Conference and the launching of the Eucharistic Congress.
