Bishop Hiiboro Urges People of Wau to put their differences aside and work closely with their new shepherd Bishop Remijio
Rt. Rev. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio has urged the people of Wau Diocese to put their tribal differences aside and work together with the newly consecrated Bishop of Wau Rt. Rev. Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku, M.C.C.I. in order to bring back the pride of the diocese as the home of the Catholic Church.
While addressing congregants in Wau on 22nd January upon his arrival together with a delegation from his diocese for the consecration of Bishop Remijio, which took place on 24th January, Bishop Hiiboro empathized with the people of Wau telling them that he perfectly understood the kind of suffering they were going through as a result of wars due to tribal differences.
“Forgive the past, open a new page with this new bishop; build new ways in your relationships so that all of you would celebrate the joy that God has brought to you. We assure you of our closeness and prayers. I therefore
urge all of you to join up the Bishop and work together for the of your great diocese. The priests, join up with the bishop, the religious join up with the bishop, catechists, all the men and women of God in the diocese of Wau, please you have a gift now, make use of it, celebrate it; work together to reclaim the glory of the Catholic Diocese of Wau,” Bishop Hiiporo advised.
Today I am very happy that our pilgrimage from the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio has arrived here safely this morning to the Diocese of Wau, our home, our origin. I am very grateful for the kind reception, very exciting, very moving and indeed very consolidating. I couldn't imagine the kind of joy that you people have given to us. To see lots of people coming together to receive us so warmly and moving with us for over two miles, singing and walking on foot in the dust in the heat; I am so touched and so grateful,” Bishop Hiiboro said as he expressed gratitude to Wau Diocese Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Santino Maurino who organized the event.
“All the people here who have a connection with the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, all of you who have personal contact with people in Tombura-Yambio and all the people of Wau, I thank you for your friendship.”
“We have come to join you for this historic event that God has permitted. I thank God Almighty for being so kind to us in this great nation of South Sudan, so kind to us in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, so kind to us in the Catholic Diocese of Wau and particularly for giving us a new bishop,” he expressed.
Bishop Hiiboro also thanked the Holy Father Pope Francis for “being so close and so keen about the needs of his children in South Sudan.” He pointed out that Pope Francis has a special love for South Sudan because of the things he has done and continues to do, especially his desire for a peaceful and prosperous South Sudan.
“We are humbled and as his close collaborators; the bishops, the Christian communities and even our politicians whom he touched by kissing their feet and telling them to kiss the feet of each other should follow in his gestures and work heard towards a united and peaceful South Sudan. We too the people of South Sudan should kiss the feet of each other by working together and by forgiving each other.”
Bishop Eduardo also talked about the historic connections between the Catholic Dioceses of Wau and Tombura-Yambio by indicating that The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio was curved from the Catholic Diocese of Wau.
“We were born out of this diocese so we are just returning home. One of the Bishop of Wau, Rt. Rev. Eduardo Mason whose name I am holding was the bishop of the whole region and my own father saw him and loved him and when I was born he gave his name to me. So I have been to Italy and saw the tomb of our first bishop Eduardo Mason. It was in 1949 when we separated upon the creation of the Vicariate of Mupoi. Later on in 1975 it was made the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio with the first native bishop Rt. Rev. Joseph Abangite and now myself as the second native local ordinary,” Bishop Hiiboro elaborated.
Among the delegation from Tombura-Yambio, which was led by Bishop Hiiboro to the Consecr
ation of Bishop Remijio included seven priests, a deacon, three religious sisters and members of lay faithful.
Among other prominent people at the ceremony included Most Rev. Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen-Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan; Msgr. Mark Kadima-Chargeˋ d Affairs of the Vatican Embassy in Juba; His Eminence Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako-Archbishop Emeritus of Khartoum; Rt. Rev. Taban Paride-Bishop Emeritus of Torit; Most Rev. Michael Didi-Archbishop of Khartoum; Most Rev. Stephen Ameyu Mulla-Archbishop of Juba; Rt. Rev. Elkulano Ladu-Bishop of Yei; Rt. Rev. Trile Tombe-Bishop of El Obeid; Rt. Rev. Daniel Adwok-Auxiliary Bishop of Khartoum; Rt. Rev. Santo Laku Pio-Auxiliary Bishop of Juba; Rt. Rev. Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwok-Bishop of Malakal and Rev. Fr. John Mathiang-Apostolic Administrator for Rumbek Diocese.
