KENYA: All I Did Was for the Good of the Church and the People, Says Outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan
The Outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan and Kenya His Grace Monsignor Bert van Megen Photo Otto Abut CRN
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
After serving the people of God in the world’s youngest nation for three decades, the outgoing Pope’s representative has disclosed that what he did was for the good of the Church and the people of South Sudan.
In his farewell letter dated Monday, August 5, and addressed to members of Sudan and South-Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference (SSSCBC), the clergy, Religious Brothers and Sisters, and all People of God, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen appreciated his time of service and the collaboration from the people.
“Dear brothers, it is time to say farewell. As Saint Paul said in his farewell, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), the Vatican diplomat said and added, “Everything I did, I did was for the good of the Church and the good of the People of God in this great country.”
Even though Archbishop van Megen leaves the office in South Sudan to pave the way for the first-ever resident Apostolic Nuncio in the country and to continue serving as the Pope’s representative in Kenya, he promises prayers to the people of God referring to the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians.
He said, “It is time for me to leave this beautiful country, South Sudan, child of the Nile, land of Kush. However, I will not forget you: “We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” said Archbishop van Megen in reference to Paul’s letter to the Colossians (1: 9-12).
Archbishop van Megen who is also the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Human Settlement Program appreciated the Holy Father’s appointment of His Excellency Mons. Séamus Patrick Horgan in Mid-May saying the Lord has answered the prayers of his people.
“Though, on the one hand profoundly saddened to leave this country, on the other hand, I rejoice that Juba will finally receive its own Apostolic Nuncio. We have all worked and prayed for this,” he said in his Monday letter drafted a day after the farewell Mass on Sunday, August 4, at St. Theresa’s Cathedral Church in Juba and explained, “In every visit to the Vatican, I requested the Holy See to dispatch a permanent representative to South Sudan, because the Church in South Sudan has reached its maturity.”
According to Archbishop van Megen, the new Nuncio Mgr. Horgan is an excellent diplomat and will guide the Church to greater heights. Besides, he will be able to further strengthen the friendly relations between the Holy See and the Republic of South Sudan.
