Six Candidates for Priesthood and Diaconate Ordination Left Diocesan Secretariat Curia for a Three-Days Spiritual Retreat
On Sunday, April 18, 2021, Rt. Rev. Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio together with Rev. Fr. Hume George, the Diocesan Vocations Animator saw off six candidates for the priesthood and diaconate ordination to Ezo, Mid-West Deanery for their three-days spiritual Retreat ahead of their ordination.
During their retreat, the candidates will be under the care of Rev Fr. Jacinto Nangi, the Episcopal Vicar of Holy Spirit Mid-West Deanery at Regina Mondi Catholic Parish in Ezo. The ordination ceremony is scheduled to take place on 25th April 2021 at Nakindo Sene Catholic Parish in Nzara, which is under Holy Cross Deanery.
While announcing the ordination event last February, Barani Hiiboro asked the faithful of CDTY to pray for our beloved candidates and also to raise substantial donations of every kind to help these young people start their ministry on firm steps.
Rev. Fr. George Hume who doubles as the Diocesan Vocation Animator and Rector at St. John Paul ll Philosophicum Major Seminary in Yambio called upon more young people to join the Seminary.
It is worth mentioning that the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio has an estimated 243 candidates to priesthood both at Minor and Major Seminaries. This makes CDTY the most fertile place for Priestly Vocation in Sudan and South Sudan. There is also a steady growing number of Priestly Vocations from CDTY to International Religious Missionary Congregations, the total number currently stands at 47 individuals.
Barani Hiiboro too encouraged the international congregations such as Jesuits, Comboni, Salesians, Community of St Paul Apostle, Augustinian, Christian Brothers, Franciscan, and others working in CDTY to recruit more local young people into the vocation. He said that the diocese does not hinder missionary Vocations as all are for the service of God’s people.
The Bishop, however, decried the low number of girls joining consecrated life. He, therefore, asked parents, religious sisters, Parish priests, and all faithful to join hands in encouraging young people to embrace religious vocations to religious life.
By Joseph Ernesto Chakaya
