On Death Anniversary of Catholic Bishop in South Sudan, Successor Recalls Tireless “sower”

Rumbek, 16 July, 2023

Bishop Christian Carlassare of Rumbek Diocese in South Sudan has remembered his predecessor, Bishop Caesar Mazzolari, as a tireless “sower”.

In his homily on the occasion of Bishop Mazzolari’s 12th death anniversary on Sunday, July 16, Bishop Carlassare related his predecessor’s ministry in South Sudan to the parable of the sower in the Gospel reading of the day, the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Similar to the sower in the parable, who “walks and sows the seed”, Bishop Carlassare says in his homily notes he shared with ACI Africa, “Bishop Mazzolari left Italy and USA to come to South Sudan in the eighties and to Rumbek in 1991.”

“The sower went out and – the Gospel did not say he returned home. He did not. He continued to sow,” he says, and relating the untiring sowing to his predecessor who died during Holy Mass at the age of 74 adds, “The sower is sowing till now. Bishop Mazzolari continued to sow till his last day, and surely, he is still sowing from his resting place through his intercession.”

Bishop Christian Carlassare at the launching of Bishop Mazzolari Memorial House in Rumbek, South Sudan, on 16 July 2023 (Credit: Good News Radio/Rumbek Diocese)

Like the sower in the parable who must have been buried, upon his death, under the same soils he had scattered the seeds, “Bishop Mazzolari shared the same destiny; he planted and was buried in the land he served,” the Italian-born member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) says about his late confrere and compatriot, who was laid to rest inside the Holy Family Cathedral of Rumbek Diocese.

In the notes of his July 16 homily shared with ACI Africa, he adds, “Like the Word of God planted in our hearts, so we carry Bishop Mazzolari and what he did in our hearts as well.”

Amid challenges in his ministry at the helm of Rumbek Diocese, Bishop Mazzolari said he continued to be hopeful, many times having to hope against human hope, Bishop Carlassare says, recalling the words of the late Bishop in a 2009 interview.

Vestments that Bishop Mazzolari used, displayed in his Memorial House that was inaugurated on 16 July 2023 in Rumbek (Credit: Good News Radio/Rumbek Diocese)

Such attitude of hope that Bishop Mazzolari spoke about in self-examination relates to the sower in the parable, who “sows along the path, on hard soil, on rocky ground, among thorns,” the Local Ordinary of Rumbek Diocese says, adding that in sowing in different soils, “the sower sees hope everywhere ... He sows because of his faith in God.”

The sower in the parable “sows because of his faith in conversion: the seed (the Word of God) can change people into a new humanity, can change the world into a fraternal world,” Bishop Carlassare says, recalling the attitude of faith, hope, and generosity of his predecessor, Bishop Mazzolari.

The Catholic Bishop who started his Priestly ministry in South Sudan in the Catholic Diocese of Malakal in 2005 goes on to recognize the good intentions of the sower in the parable, saying, “The sower looks for good soil.”

“Bishop Mazzolari believed that you are the good soil, each one of you; South Sudan is that promised land where the vision of God may be accomplished,” Bishop Carlassare says in his July 16 homily notes that he shared with ACI Africa.

He challenges the people of God in South Sudan to reflect on the type of soil they are.

“What soil do we leave in heritage to our children? Rocks of conflicts? Soil of peace?” Bishop Carlassare poses, and adds, “Bishop Mazzolari prepared the soil to build a good Church… let us keep it good – together.”