PRIESTS IN THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF TOMBURA-YAMBIO REMAIN UNITED AND PASTORALLY ZEALOUS DESPITE SOME CHALLENGES

PRIESTS IN THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF TOMBURA-YAMBIO REMAIN UNITED AND PASTORALLY ZEALOUS DESPITE SOME CHALLENGES

By Fr. Louis Nvuekama

After the celebration of Mission Sunday under the theme; “Hearts on Fire, Feet on the Move” I spared some time during my evening Prayer (Rosary) to meditate on my priestly ministry and the services offered by priests of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio. In my meditation, I realized how priests zealously and unreservedly carry out pastoral duties in the diocese of Tombura-Yambio. It was then that I felt beholden to share this article.

The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio is one of the Seven (7) Catholic Dioceses in the Republic of South Sudan. It is comprised of 40 parishes, a number of quasi-parishes, and many outstations (centers and chapels). The diocese has less than 60 active priests, some of whom study or work outside the diocese. This makes pastoral work in the diocese disproportionate to the number of priests working in the diocese.

South Sudan is known for its familiarity with civil wars, armed conflicts, and the ensuing poverty. This has impacted profoundly on the Christian faithful, making them unable to contribute substantially towards the development of their church and the well-being of their priests. However, the Christians remain steadfast in their Faith, Love, and Hope in God since He is the source of their joy and the church is the only consolation they have in times of desperation and hopelessness.

To strengthen the Faith, Love, and Hope of the poverty-stricken flock of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, the priests have remained zealously unswerving in their mission amidst all pastoral challenges. 

The priests use every means available to reach the Christians wherever they are; those driven away from their homes by insecurity or hunger and are in the remotest villages and farmlands, those who are sick, aged, and physically challenged.

When the roads (or rather footpaths) leading to the outstations and homes of old or sick people are not accessible by motorbike, the priests use bicycles or even walk so as to reach them. When the roads are blocked by streams or swamps with no or damaged bridges, the priests walk in the middle of the water in their struggle to reach their Christians. “The Christians or Death” seems to be their motto, as if to conform to the “Africa or Death” of St. Daniel Comboni.

Fr. Louis on pastoral visit

Recently, Fr. Moses Tameregu, who is the parish priest of the three parishes of Maambe, Bahr’ Olo, and Ras’ Olo, was seen struggling to cross the Kuyongu stream whose bridge was carried away by water, hence blocking the Yambio-Juba road. He is only one among the many priests who struggle to cross such streams in order to reach their Christian communities. Those in the Western part of the diocese always find it difficult to travel to the Diocesan Headquarters for important annual celebrations that occur during the rainy season, due to bad roads and streams without bridges. There are also many others who risk their lives to answer sick calls at night, in the rain or in the cold, or in times of insecurity.

Fr. Moses Tameregu struggles to cross Kuyongu stream on his way back to his parishes

Due to the insufficient number of priests in the diocese, many priests administer more than one parishes and institutions. This makes a single priest to celebrate two to three masses in different places on a particular Sunday so as to attend and respond to the pastoral needs of the Christian communities. Some priests handle a number of responsibilities, some of which are practically incompatible. For example, a priest who is both a parish priest with no curate and at the same time head teacher of a primary school finds it hard to be available and efficient in any of the two; he is always found running from the parish office to the school and then for Christian burials as well as responding to sick calls.

With the enormous pastoral commitment that each priest shoulders, they gladly forego holidays and day-offs for the good of the flock entrusted to their care. In my opinion, this is in line with the theme chosen by the Holy Father for this year’s celebration of Mission Sunday; “Hearts on Fire, Feet of the Move”. The priests in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio are indeed on fire and on move-in carrying out their overwhelming pastoral activities. The harvest is indeed plentiful but the good news is that the few laborers are very hardworking and committed. Many priests sit in the confessional for hours, even if it means missing meals. Others even celebrate Holy Masses when under the weather (sick) and have no other priest to assist.

The growing number of vocations in the diocese gives the hope that, in three to four years, the number of priests will increase and pastoral services will be fairly shared and administered.

Where Christians cannot provide for their feeding, the priests still find time from their busy pastoral schedule to work on the farms to produce their own food. This is given more impetus by the persistent encouragement from their bishop, Barani Eduardo Hiiboro, who calls upon the priests to “dirty” their hands or work for their own survival using the slogan, “Hoe one hand and Bible one hand” Many priests have used the slogan literally and can testify that it has helped them put food on their tables. Fr. Ezekiel Sungerukuari, after being appointed to a newly created parish, has been able to survive because of the hoe and machete he holds. He too, is one example of the many priests in the diocese who work for their sustainability.  However, this has also caused many to be weak, sickly, and subsequently ineffective in their pastoral ministry.

Fr. Ezekiel works in his field on Easter Monday

 One would ask; Where do the priests draw their strength and inspiration from? The answers are clear and simple;

The paradigmatic mission of St. Daniel and his followers, especially those who worked in the diocese of Tombura-Yambio, notably Fr. Frinzini (nicknamed Basangba-Mbori), Fr. Gioregetti (Fr. Gero), Fr. Luigi Parisi (nicknamed Raaniyo, meaning one who goes to the remote areas) and many others, serve as morale boosters for the priests.

The response of Jesus to the disciples’ question, “What shall we get since we have everything to follow you?” is very encouraging, “no one who has left family and everything to follow me will be unrewarded” (Mk. 10: 29-31). Ours is a ministry of service for no material or ephemeral gain, we work for a spiritual and eternal benefit, stored for us and those we serve by God in Heaven where neither thieves nor rust can destroy (Mt.6:19-21).

Dear respected priests, ours is “mission ecclesiae” (mission of the church) and a participation in “Missio Dei” (mission of God). We must therefore hold onto God who called and chose us for His mission. Human beings will surely frustrate our efforts, and others will deride, humiliate, and divide us. But remember two things; First and foremost, we share One Holy mission/ministry because we were called by one God, and at the end of the day we shall all be accountable to Him. Secondly, our consolation comes from one another’s company and encouragement. So let us Remain UNITED and PASTORALLY ZEALOUS.

May St. Daniel Comboni intercede for priests of CDTY.