Christians Receives Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation in Two Parishes After Three Years of being Cut Off.

From Nagero Parish, 20 individuals received the sacrament of Baptism, 30 individuals received the First Holy Communion and 60 received Confirmation. At St. Daniel Comboni Maringindo Parish 27 individuals were baptized, 37 received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion while 67 individuals were confirmed.

 The two parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, for the last three years have remained under the care of catechists following conflicts which arose in the region resulting to mass exodus of people. Priests who were serving in the two parishes also left for their own safety.

 “Because of war, there were no priests staying in these two parishes as people had fled due to violence. When things calmed down and people returned, the priests did not come to reside among them; they could only come occasionally to celebrate Mass and then go back. But in the whole of 2020, because of a number of factors, such as the bad roads during the rainy seasons, and later the coronavirus pandemic which saw travel restrictions, the priest only visited the place once so throughout the year 2020, there was only one Mass celebration,” explained Bishop Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala, the local ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio.

 As a sign of his utmost gratitude, Bishop Hiiboro knelt down before the catechists from the two parishes for the tremendous work they have done to ensure that the torch of faith remained burning.

 “I thank all of you today, my dear Christians for remaining committed to your faith and to my beloved catechists, I kneel down in front of the you today, for I do not know how well I can repay you for the kind of commitments you have demonstrated. For being so diligent, for being so resilient and for being so full of faith and for keeping that light of faith burning in the two parishes of Nazareth and St. Daniel Comboni.”

 “You have stood your ground as believers and I have come and I have found believers. I found many children to baptize, I have found many people to give first Holy Communion and I have found so many people to give the Sacrament of Confirmation and this work has been done by you the catechists. You are the foundation of faith building after the families. I hail you; I thank you my dear beloved catechists. I love you and I sincerely appreciate and congratulate you for the work well done, for your hard work, and for your dedication,” Bishop Hiiboro expressed as he assured the catechists of his prayers and close support.

 While attributing the success in his own life to the foundation given by those who catechized him, Bishop Hiiboro called upon all the Christian Communities throughout the diocese to mobilize and support the catechists in their work.

 “I owe great gratitude to you the catechists for you taught me the rudiment of faith that has led me all the way to become a shepherd in the diocese of Tombura-Yambio. Thank you for the work that you do.”

 The Bishop promised to continue investing in the catechists training, guidance and support. He said that despite the fact that the diocese has a huge challenge when it comes to resources, the diocese is committed to ensure that care and support to the catechists is prioritized.

 In the whole diocese of Tombura-Yambio, there are over 780 catechists working in the 35 parishes. In the two parishes that I have been cut off due to conflicts for the last three years, it is the catechists who have been there journeying with the Christian communities. Besides preparing people for the sacraments, they have been leading the Sunday prayer services as well as conducting other essential services in the communities such as praying for the sick and presiding over burials in the two parishes.