President Kiir donates SSP 15 Million, Landcruiser to Torit diocese

Archbishop Emeritus of Sudan’s Khartoum Archdiocese Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako leading the mass during the Centenary Celebration of Torit Diocese on 21 November 2022. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit has pledged to donate SSP 15 million and a V6 Landcruiser to the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Torit during the centenary celebrations on Sunday.

The celebrations were delayed for two years as the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the country. 

Thousands of Catholic faithful thronged the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Torit to mark the 100 years of faith in the diocese during a mass presided over by the Archbishop Emeritus of Sudan’s Khartoum Archdiocese Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako. 

Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban, Archbishop of Juba Diocese Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, and the newly appointed Bishop-elect of Torit Diocese Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napata were also in attendance.

Presidential Affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who was representing the president at the function, delivered his message. 

“For the Bishop-elect, President Salva on behalf of his government and on behalf of all the people of South Sudan he is going to donate Landcruiser six doors, V6 for our Bishop because he needs to go everywhere in Eastern Equatoria Mr. Governor," Marial told the congregation. "Our president also said he will donate 15 million SSP to the diocese. 100 years with all his children the citizens this is important your government must also contribute to the joy of happiness that at least Christianity in this place has reached 100 years."

Minister Marial also hailed the people of Eastern Equatoria State for working for peace and the catholic church for its efforts toward peaceful co-existence and service to the poor and vulnerable in the state. 

He was accompanied by the First Deputy Speaker of the national parliament Oyet Nathaniel and other national legislators. 

During his sermon, Cardinal Zubeir urged South Sudanese to denounce greed and love each other.

“Help one another. If you own a gun, let it be for killing lions and not people. If you have food don’t think only of selling it to the merchants, think also of the hungry children and the hungry people around your place let them eat as well," he said. 

Meanwhile, Governor Louis Lobong Lojore acknowledged the role played by the church in promoting peace and unity in his state. 

He went on to invite President Kiir to the state saying the people are eager to see him and discuss their daily challenges. 

“The people of Eastern Equatoria State were very eager to see their president come and talk with them and pray with them today so that they talk their issues," he said. "The state has small issues of insecurity, border encroachment, the issue of cattle rustling that was imposed on them from other states and the road from Torit to Juba is now worse for these people. Yesterday even they laid an ambush on these Christians who were coming to pray and that one is very closer to Juba the capital city. I hope you will take this issue," he appealed to Marial. 

Separately, Cardinal Zubeir while speaking exclusively to Radio Tamazuj upon his arrival in Torit called on leaders in both Sudan and South Sudan to serve the people with dignity and integrity. 

“Leaders should consider themselves as citizens of this country. They are believers and that means God is in them. Your being in big positions like that means God is more in you because you affect the lives of God's children," he said. "They are people who are handling the creation of God. If somebody gives you something precious, especially for a big person, you will hold it nicely and with great care you defend it. Why can't our leaders take this message seriously that all these Sudanese who are here from the smallest to the biggest are precious children of God." 

He urged the leaders to use their positions to better the lives of the people equally.

Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Archbishop of Khartoum (Sudan), was born on February 27, 1941, in Mboro, Sudan. He was ordained a priest on July 21, 1963, and Bishop of Wau on April 6, 1975. On October 30, 1979, he was appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of Khartoum, and on October 10, 1981, succeeded as Archbishop. On October 21, 2003, he was proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul II.