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South Sudan’s Wau Diocese Launches Funds Drive Toward Ordination of New Bishop

Bishop-elect Matthew Adam Gbitiku.

By Peter Mapuor Makur

Wau, 11 January, 2021 / 2:46 pm (ACI Africa).

In order to carry out a successful installation of the new Bishop for South Sudan’s Wau Diocese, a donation exercise has been initiated, spearheaded by a fundraising committee, an official has told ACI Africa over the weekend.

Speaking to ACI Africa on the sidelines of the launch of the funds drive toward the ordination of Bishop-elect Matthew Adam Gbitiku, the Chairman of Fundraising Committee, Clement Costa Kuot said, “We the committee members are working hard to make sure that the funds are raised for this important occasion of installing the Bishop.”

Mr. Kuot explained that the 15-member committee is reaching out to the people of God, especially Catholics in South Sudan and neighboring Sudan, to contribute to the kitty ahead of the Episcopal ordination scheduled to take place on January 24.

“So far, we have circulated some letters and we have received some (feedback) and we hope by next week the results will come,” he told ACI Africa during the Saturday, January 9 interview.

“We have the business community to talk to, as well as the faithful and individuals to contribute,” Mr. Kuot said and added, “The contribution done by our Catholics is a sign of faith and commitment and we are calling upon those who did not contribute to contribute because time is limited.”

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The Vicar General of the Wau Diocese constituted the Fundraising Committee that is currently based in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

Appointed Bishop on November 18, the Bishop-elect who is a member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) and a native of Wau Diocese arrived in the nation’s capital last January 4.

Until his appointment as Bishop of Wau Diocese, the South Sudanese Cleric was based in Kenya, serving as Vice-Rector and Bursar of the Nairobi-based International Theologate of the Comboni Missionaries.

In the January 9 interview with ACI Africa, Mr. Kuot expressed optimism in the success of the funds drive to facilitate the Episcopal ordination event.

“We are confident that we will get some funds. Because of the COVID-19 situation and the harsh economic crisis that came with this new year, we are facing numerous financial challenges but we hope to raise some money soon,” the South Sudanese Juba-based Catholic said.

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“We are focusing on the local contribution within South Sudan,” he further said and added, “Our business is to get local contributions because this is our local Church and it is our responsibility to take care of this event.”

According to the committee leader, the invitation to contribute finances has been extended to all the seven Catholic Dioceses in South Sudan as well as the two in Sudan.

“It is not just an event for the Catholic Diocese of Wau but for the entire Catholic Church in our countries. This event is for both Sudan and South Sudan as we are under one Bishops’ Conference,” Mr. Kuot said.

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