Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop for Catholic Diocese of Rumbek
It has been ten solid years that the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek has journeyed without a shepherd following the death of Bishop Ceasar Muzollari in 2011. The long wait for a new Bishop has now come to an end as on Monday, 8th March 2021, the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Rev. Fr. Christian Carlassare, M.C.C.J. as New Bishop for Rumbek.
Pope Francis made the appointment while on his Peace Pilgrimage to Iraq. Commenting on the appointment of the new Bishop for Rumbek, Rt. Rev. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, who is the Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio said that the appointment of Rev. Fr. Carlassare, M.C.C.J. as Bishop of Rumbek is an honor from the Holy Father to South Sudan.
While sharing the good news with heads of department and staff at the Curia in his diocese Bishop Hiiboro called upon all Christians from the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio to join him in prayers for the people of Rumbek Catholic Diocese to prosper in unity, collaboration, and prayers in the administration of Rumbek.
Bishop Hiiboro congratulated Rev.Fr. John Mathiang, the Apostolic Administrator for Rumbek Diocese who stood firmly to hold the administration of the diocese for nearly 8 years and has realized many things including the establishment of new Parishes, ordinations of new priests, a growing number of faithful, and establishment of higher learning Institution like the Campus of Catholic University of South Sudan among others. He thanked Fr. Mathiang for his dedication to the Church in Rumbek.
The newly appointed Bishop for Rumbek Diocese is a Comboni Missionary and an Italian national. Until his appointment, Fr. Christian was the Vicar General of the Diocese of Malakal.
Rev. Fr. Christian Carlassare, M.C.C.J., was born on 1st October 1977 in Schio, Vicenza, Italy. After primary and secondary school, he attended an orientation course at the Comboni Missionary Seminary in Thiene, Vicenza. He carried out his postulancy and philosophical studies in Florence at the Theological Faculty of Central Italy, and his novitiate in Venegono Superiore, Varese. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (2000-2003) and another Bachelor’s in Missiology from the Pontifical Urban University (2003-2004) in Rome.
He made his solemn profession in Rome in 2003 and was ordained a priest on 4 September 2004. After ordination, he attended an English language course between 2004 and 2005 and went to South Sudan to learn the Nuer language at the Holy Trinity Parish, Old Fangak County where he stayed between 2005 and 2006.
He subsequently held the following positions: vicar (2006-2007) and parish priest of the same parish in Jonglei State (2007-2016); member of the Secretariat of Animation of Vocations and Basic Formation (2011-2019); provincial councilor of the Comboni Missionaries, South Sudan (2012-2019); secretary of the Provincial Council of the Comboni Missionaries (2014-2016); vice provincial in South Sudan (2017-2019); and promoter of vocations and director of the orientation course (pre-Postulancy) for the Comboni Missionaries in Moroyok (Juba) (2017-2020). From 2020 until the present he has served as vicar general of the diocese of Malakal.
By, Elias Ginana Mangbondo
