Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio Launches New Testament Bible in Pazande Language
It is slightly more than one Century (100 years) since the liturgical language of Pazande, which is spoken by a section of natives of South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central Africa Republic was approved and endorsed by the Divine Office of the Holy See in Rome.
By Rurugene Online News
It is slightly more than one Century (100 years) since the liturgical language of Pazande, which is spoken by a section of natives of South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central Africa Republic was approved and endorsed by the Divine Office of the Holy See in Rome.
Since then, the Catholic Church in the three countries have not managed to translate the Bible into Pazande Language, as such, the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio where Pazande language is spoken have been using the protestant Pazande Bible from Congo who managed to translate the whole Bible; this together with some short translations of the Lectionary have been used during the liturgies.
It was therefore a big celebration in Yambio on Sunday, September 13, when the diocese launched the New Testament Catholic Version Bible in Pazande for the Azande people. Held under the theme: “Your Word is a Lamp for my Feet, a Light for my Path,” the launch coincided with the 6th anniversary of the death of the first Catholic Bishop of Tombura-Yambio Diocese, Chitarani Joseph Abangite Gasi (MHSRIP).
According to the current Bishop of Tombura-Yambio, Barani Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala, despite the fact that Pazande Language, which is spoken by some four million people from the three African modern countries has been in used during the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist since 1919, the community has not been able to translate the whole Bible into the local Pazande Language.
“This became a concern over the years and the first Vicar General of the diocese Msgr. Jerome Bidai Siri, taking after his namesake St. Jerome, started to translate the Holy Bible back in the 80s. Unfortunately, his efforts kept being interrupted by the civil war,” Bishop Hiiboro explained adding that when Msgr. Jerome could not continue with the work due to old age, Bishop Joseph Gasi Abangite, who was fully behind the initiative transferred the responsibility a Rev. Dr. David Sahatini.
Unfortunately, Fr. Sahatini passed on leaving them incomplete. Although the translation work was complete, there was a need for proofreading, and this responsibility was passed over to Mr. Albert Anikpi. Bishop Hiiboro said that many people got involved in the process and thanks to their dedication, the diocese now has a Catholic version of the News Testament in Pazande.
“There are so many elders, so many lay people whose names are written in the preface of this New Testament; these people did a great job. When I became a Bishop, the work was not yet completed, and therefore with the support of some of my priests and the lay people, we have managed to finally have our own New Testament Bible,” Bishop Hiiboro expressed.
He thanked Missio Aachen who financially supported the diocese to publish (design and printing). He also thanked the Pauline Sisters, in Nairobi, Kenya who worked on the manuscript and presented it to the publisher in Italy where it was printed.
Bishop Hiiboro explained that the translation involved a lot of work, which included literally handwriting before the typesetting using a typewriter and eventually transferring to the computer. During the proofreading and editing, the Azande people from the three countries that speak the Language were involved.
“We managed to print about 7000 copies, which we will be able to distribute to all the 35 parishes. There will be a launch in each parish for the community to use it. Also, the institutions of the Diocese will receive copies, which will be in use from now onwards,” Bishop Hiiboro said adding that the Bible will also be made available for anybody who wishes to access it.
“The translation is well done, it is very good and with this launch, the work on the Old Testament has started and is ongoing and our hope and prayer is that we shall be able to finish it possibly by the end of this year and begin proofreading early next year,” the Bishop revealed adding that this is the reason why they didn’t want to produce many copies of the New Testament as the publishing of the whole Catholic Version Bible (The Old and the New Testament) in Pazande is expected to happen in the near future.
