Hinting the challenges of trauma, the Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of CDTY since his Episcopal Ordination in June 2008 said that the violent conflict and the activities around them have “paralyzed us because any word, gesture that we say is misinterpreted immediately.”
The 58-year-old South Sudanese Bishop went on to encourage the people of God in the world’s youngest nation to work for peace, saying, “In this Holy Week you need to work for peace because this is the only way for us to live together.”
He underscored the need to make sacrifices in the example of Jesus Christ who gives his life on the cross for humanity.
“We should not get discouraged from making more life for others,” he said.
The Catholic Church leader further advocated for collaboration, saying, “Everybody has to work for peace because the world has become one and small, so we should all work jointly.”
“In the village I came from we called it the United States because all tribes are there and they live together,” the native of CDTY said, adding, “We need to practice the same everywhere we are living as a community.”
He further said, “South Sudan is a newly born country and other developed countries are having their mission here because it’s part of the world.”
“We should not limit our relationships; open up, and reach out to our people,” Bishop Hiiboro said, and added, “We are taught in the Church to pray, believe in God, work with God and others, and develop the people because they are the children of God.”
“May this Holy Week transform us to build our Republic of South Sudan together because we cannot do it alone,” he implored, and continued, “May the Almighty God bless you and grant you success during this Holy Season so that we may be able to transform and (give) life for our brothers and sisters.”
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.
