Catholic Men in South Sudanese Diocese Urged to Be at “forefront of resolving” Issues

Wau, 01 May, 2023 / 8:00 PM

Members of the Catholic Men Association (CMA) in South Sudan’s Wau Diocese have been urged to spearhead reconciliation initiatives in their respective communities.

Speaking during a meeting to evaluate the progress made by CMA members since their launch in his Episcopal See in June last year, Bishop Mathew Remijio Adam encouraged the Catholic men to support each other during their meetings, which he said should be used for planning on how to realize their objectives. 

“The role of the association is to support the communities to live in peace with each other,” Bishop Remijio said during the Monday, April 24 event, and added, “There are many issues affecting our communities and we have to be in the forefront of resolving them.”

The South Sudanese member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) underscored the value of meeting regularly, and encouraged the CMA members in his Diocese “come together to discuss issues that are affecting our communities”, including incidences of disagreement and division among members. 

“The Catholic Men Association is not only to empower our families alone and give witness to our Christian vocation,” Bishop Remijio said, adding that the association exists to help members plan together how to make the society better, and achieve their goals.

The Catholic Church leader who has been at the helm of Wau Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination on 24 January 2021 to take advantage of their presence at the grassroots to reach out to other community members “with the word of God”.

“Let’s come together, plan and achieve something we want to achieve together to reach those who need Church services,” he further said during the April 24 meeting.

The South Sudanese Catholic Bishop further called on the CMA members to extend their services beyond the Diocese, saying, “Your work will not only be limited to the Diocese but to the other places in the country if there is need.”

“This forum is one of the opportunities where we come together as Catholic men to share our concerns by discussing a wide range of issues affecting us,” the 50-year-old Catholic Bishop said.

Bishop Remijio said that he found it regrettable that “to meet other men who care about similar issues and interests is very rare in our community.”

“We need to collaborate with other men to share ideas which will be an encouragement for us as Church and the community,” the South Sudanese Catholic Bishop said.

In June 2022, Bishop Remijio called on CMA members in his Episcopal See to “to actively participate in evangelization.”

He described CMA as “a solidarity group that brings together all participating Catholic men to take an active role in the process of evangelization, being in the family, church, and the society.” 

“Catholic Men Association has to mobilize men to take on different projects for the benefit of the wider congregation,” he said during the launch of CMA in his Diocese on Pentecost Sunday 2022.