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“We need to reconcile, forgive” to Celebrate Christmas in Happiness: South Sudanese Bishop

Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam of South Sudan's Wau Diocese/ Credit: Courtesy Photo

The Catholic Bishop of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese has called on the people of God in the East-Central African nation to practice reconciliation and forgiveness in order to celebrate Christmas in happiness.

Speaking on the first day of Christmas Carols organized in his Episcopal See on Monday, December 19, Bishop Matthew Remijio said there is need to “show love and peace” during the Christmas Season

“For us to celebrate Christmas in happiness, we need to reconcile, forgive and have peace with one another,” Bishop Remijio said during the event that was held at Auxilium Basic School premises in Wau Diocese.

He added, “We should pray that this Christmas may inspire us all to seek reconciliation and peace instead of division and indifference.”

The South Sudanese member of Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) said Christians need to seek forgiveness during Christmas in order to “live with their brothers and sisters in peace and harmony.”

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“We need to show love and peace starting from our families then to the rest of society because we are the source of happiness for our people,” the 50-year-old Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of Wau Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in January 2021 said.

Bishop Remijio urged followers of Christ “to ask for forgiveness” despite the challenges they are going through, and called upon the people of God in South Sudan to “pray for God’s guidance and blessings throughout the celebrations.”

“We need to have faith by putting the name of God first before anything,” the South Sudanese Catholic Bishop said, and implored, “May the people of South Sudan experience the joy, and peace of the newborn child Jesus Christ as we celebrate Him as God’s gift of love to the world.”

Bishop Remijio further implored, “May the joy of Christmas empower us to move from darkness to light, from violence to peace towards ourselves, our neighbors and the country.”

Patrick Juma Wani is a South Sudanese journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. Patrick holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Makerere Institute for Social Development (MISD) in Uganda. He has over 7 years of extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of media, advocacy, communication and multimedia strategy and operations, with an excellent track record of editorial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder outreach. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.