Bishop Hiiboro Urges Faithful to Reflect on Teachings of Late Bishop Gasi Ahead of his 10th Anniversary
Bishop Hiiboro Urges Faithful to Reflect on Teachings of Late Bishop Gasi Ahead of his 10th Anniversary
By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY) will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of its first Bishop, Joseph Gasi Abangite, on September 13, 2024. Known for his humility, devotion to holiness, and efforts to promote peace and unity.
In his pastoral message ahead of the anniversary, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the CDTY has urged the faithful to reflect on Bishop Gasi’s teachings and Legacy.
“As we mark the 10th anniversary of the passing on of our cherished first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, Titarani Bishop Gasi Abangite, who went to be with the Lord on the 13th September 2015, I would like to encourage every one of us to reflect upon his most cherished teachings on; holiness, human fraternity, and peace”, wrote Bishop Hiiboro
In his letter themed “Be Perfect as Your Father is Perfect”, Bishop Hiiboro reflected on the Life of Bishop Gasi saying that he was revered for his tireless work to foster unity and mutual respect within the diocese and among South Sudan’s diverse communities.
“Bishop Gasi Abangite lived a life that serves as a great testament to us. He lived a life laced with profound humility, and sincere holiness as reflected in his everyday activities, a life full of respect for humanity, and a life by which he worked tirelessly to unite us as a people of God. His greatest desire was to foster unity among us and lead us toward a life full of mutual respect and for humanity”, Hiiboro expressed.
In his letter shared with Rurugene Online News Letter, bishop Hiiboro called on the Christians not only to reflect on the late bishop’s teachings but to actively live them out, urging them to emulate bishop Gasi’s example by working towards peace, unity and holiness.
“Let all that you do be done in love," Bishop Hiiboro quoted from 1 Corinthians 16:14, emphasizing the need for love to guide all interactions. In practical terms, this means responding with kindness and understanding in daily life, even in challenging situations”.
He added, "Every day as the day comes to an end, I want you to challenge yourself and ask: Did my actions today reflect the teachings of our cherished Titarani Bishop Joseph Gasi Abangite?"
According to bishop Hiiboro, bishop Gasi often emphasized that holiness is a journey, one that requires conscious effort and daily commitment.
“Titarani Bishop Gasi, consistently taught that everyone can live a life of holiness, especially when they see holiness as a journey and make a conscious effort to include holiness in all activities of their life”.
The prelate also stressed that bishop Gasi always urged the people to live lives of love, mercy, and compassion, while rejecting hatred, violence, and corruption.
“To successfully live a life of holiness, we must live a life that exhibits love, mercy, and compassion. We must therefore rid ourselves of hatred, violence, jealousy, selfishness, corruption, and all manner of evil. We must turn back to the Ten Commandments and lead a life that does not flaunt any of the Lord’s commandments. When we do this, we shall be honoring Titarani Bishop Gasi, and our lives will be pleasing sacrifices to our Lord”.
The local ordinary of CDTY further said in his letter that “bishop Gasi envisioned a community built on mutual respect and fraternity,” he continued, “In such a community, everyone demonstrates empathy, actively listens to each other, and shows understanding of each other’s experiences and feelings.”
In his message, bishop Hiiboro pointed to international values of fraternity, including those upheld by the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which emphasizes mutual support and the dignity of all people.
