“Only love can bring healing”: U.S. Catholic Bishop to South Sudanese Students

Bishop Evelio Menjivar Ayala, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington DC in the U.S. addressing students and the administrative staff of the Catholic University of South Sudan (CAUSS) on Tuesday, September 12 in Juba. (Credit: Kerbino Kuel Deng/ACI Africa)

“Each of us must do our parts as individuals; we must work together hand in hand to build a more peaceful and just world where all peoples are respected and cherished despite race, tribe, creed, gender, or country of origin,” the Auxiliary Bishop of Washington DC said.

Bishop Menjivar continued, “Look around as you walk on the streets or drive around; you have to ask what can I do to make my nation, my neighborhood, my family, and my community look better.”

(Credit: Kerbino Kuel Deng/ACI Africa)

“Here in Juba in South Sudan, we need Christians and people of goodwill from all religions and walks of life to continue the work of healing wounds,” the native of the Archdiocese of San Salvador in the Central American nation of El Salvador said in his reflection titled, “Saint Oscar Romero the prophet of nonviolence and peace: Lessons for South Sudanese context”.

Reflecting on the figure of St. Romero, the Catholic Church leader who started his Episcopal Ministry on February 21 as Auxiliary Bishop of Washington DC following his 19 December 2022 appointment said the El Salvadorian Saint was “a great Saint and a courageous martyr.”

“Romero denounced injustice, corruption, discrimination, and violence,” Bishop Menjivar said about his compatriot who was assassinated on 24 March 1980 at the age of 62.

(Credit: Kerbino Kuel Deng/ACI Africa)

He continued, “Romero always advocated for nonviolence, defense of justice inspired by love, forgiveness, social participation; preferential option for the poor was at the heart of his pastoral mission, and action.” 

“Romero did not believe in violence as a means to solve problems,” the 53-year-old Catholic Church leader said about the El Salvadorian Saint who was beatified in May 2015, and canonized on 14 October 2018.