“Accept the Call of God and Work Towards the Will of God in His Vineyard”, Nuncio to Newly Ordained Priests
By Joseph Ernesto and Arkangelo Rangabia
The apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Van Bert Megen ordained three deacons into the priesthood on Sunday 30th April 2023 in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio at St. Mary Mother of God Parish in Yambio.
The three young men ordained into priesthood were Deacon Santino Wise Makuei born in Gogrial and joined seminary under Nakindo Sene Zereda Nzara, Deacon Paingbafuyo Luke Doboyo, and deacon Bagaipai John both born in Ezo Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio.
The three were ordained into diaconate on 3rd June 2022 in Nakindo Sene Zereda Nzara.
In Homily, His Grace Van Bert the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan called on religious to accept the call of God and work towards the will of God in his Vineyard.
“Priests are called among their own people in order to serve them, therefore they should serve wholeheartedly. As Christ laid his life for us, they, in turn, should lay their life for the people of God”, he said.
He further called upon the Christians to remain united as they work for the universal church of God in which there is no segregation by race, origin, and language adding that the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio through the ordination is expressing the unity of the universal church we are talking about.
He promised to continue praying for the people of the Diocese and South Sudan at large and he will forward any of the people’s queries to the Pope.
Multitude attended the occasion from different countries such as Mexico, Texas, and Nairobi, USA among others as well as government officials, NGO employees, Kingdom representatives, and other denominations including the Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan Bishop of Ezo Diocese Rt. Rev. Ephraim Bangisa who is said to have been accompanied by the three ordained into priesthood two are originally from Regina Mundi Catholic Parish Ezo including Makuei who completed his Pastoral work in the same Parish of Ezo.
The occasion was organized to take place in Ngboko Source Yubu in the Western part of Western Equatoria State about 135 miles from Yambio. The ordination was to be part of 100 years celebration of faith in Ave Maria Parish Ngboko but was abruptly relocated due to security instability in the area.
Many Christians from mid-west and western deaneries used motorcycles and bicycles to come and witness the ordination and to show love for the ordained. The journey of faith of these Christians was self-sponsored through the financial scarcity in the country.
The centenary celebration was postponed until further notice according to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio who called the Christians to remain in hope of the change due to insecurity.
The apostolic Nuncio in Yambio on Saturday at the Yambio airstrip where he was warmly welcomed by faithful laying down their sheets of clothes and waving of hands and leaves for the Nuncio as a means to acquire blessings.
His Lordship Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, urged the faithful to welcome different people into the Diocese since Catholic Church is a universal church.
His Lordship thanked the Nuncio for his love, commitment, and humility for the people of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio urging him to continuously visit the Diocese as his presence shows the universality of the Catholic Church to the Christians.
