SOUTH SUDAN: “Creating New Diocese is Not Division” Catholic Bishop of Malakal to Congregations in Bentiu Diocese
Bishop of Malakal Stephen Nyodoh on Inauguration day of Bentiu Catholic New Diocese
By Ginaba Lino
The Bishop of Malakal Diocese on Sunday, August 11, told the people of Unity State that the new Diocese of Bentiu was not created for division, but to build and develop together as a local Church of South Sudan.
Speaking during the inauguration and installation of the pioneer Bishop of Bentiu Diocese, the Bishop of Malakal Stephen Nyohdo says, the new Diocese is created to cooperate and build peace and Unity together.
“Concerning the creation of the new Diocese is not separation, because we are still one home, one family, and cooperating to build together,” he said.
Bishop Stephen calls on the people of Unity State and Malakal to support the new Diocese, including bishops, priests, religious men and women.
“All of us should support the Bishop so that he can stand on his fit, so we pray for God’s protection so that he helps all of us, the new bishop and all the citizens who will be under the new Diocese.”
He thanks the pioneers who started saving in the Diocese of Malakal including the first Bishop Pio Yukwan Deng.
Meanwhile, the newly installed Bishop of Bentiu Catholic Diocese Christian Carlassare asked the people of Unity State to develop the newly created Catholic Diocese.
The Bishop was addressing hundreds of congregations during his installation and inauguration of the Catholic Diocese of Bentiu on Sunday 11th August 2024.
Bishop says the Church is not for clergy but it’s the congregations that make it powerful.
“Let us live in this mystery of being a church which is Eucharistic Church, which means a church that gives thanks a church that is grateful for the gift we have received, a church that is united, a church that bread for the hungry, that becomes the partakers of the graces of God.”
He continued “We should create a church which is not only the bishop and his priest and religious, but a church which is for all of us together, who am I without you, who is a bishop without his people, who is a leader without his people that are behind him? Let us stand all together to build up a good future for this church.”
Bishop Carlassare told the faithful to unite in solidarity with the Church to build a society full of love and togetherness.
“And the mountain of God is not across the border, it is here with us. We can climb over the divisions, over hatred, over nonsense, and in solidarity, hold each other’s arm, stand together to build a society, a city, and villages where we can live and not only survive but live with unity.”
The Catholic Diocese of Bentiu was created and announced by Pope Francis on 3rd July 2024 adding up to 8 Dioceses currently in South Sudan.
