“Stop the Hostilities”, Says Bishop Eduardo Ahead of the Centenary Celebrations, Advent, and Christmas
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“Stop the Hostilities”, Says Bishop Eduardo Ahead of the Centenary Celebrations, Advent, and Christmas
By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
As the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY) stand on the thresh hold of celebrating 100 years of faith in Tombura from 5th to 9th December 2024, coinciding with the holy season of Advent and Christmas, bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala the bishop of CDTY has called upon the communities to halt hostilities and embrace the new transformative power of love and forgiveness.
“I am appealing to you to halt hostilities during this period of Advent, the period that we are celebrating the centenary of faith in the area where both the Balanda and Azande communities have benefited”.
Drawing from his pastoral letter for Advent 2024, the prelate emphasized, “Let it be a time when we pray, pray, and pray for the grace of a right mind and a renewed spirit. Let it be a time when we come together in peace and healing, offering forgiveness where there has been hurt and extending a hand of reconciliation to all”.
In his letter dated 2nd December 2024, the local ordinary of CDTY called on every member of the community, elders, parents, youth, government officials, and Church leaders to cultivate peace.
“I am begging you on my knees in the name of our Lord and Savior to stop hating and killing each other. I am appealing to all elders, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, young people, church people, government people, and all children of God to embrace peace. Use whatever peace you have left in your heart to work toward cultivating peace and unconditional love within and between your two communities”.
In his letter, he noted that spirit of evil is hovering over Tombura, sowing seeds of hatred and violence and referencing the Gospel of John 10:10, he reminded the faithful that Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
He underscored that hatred is not from God but from the devil. Only by welcoming Jesus into their hearts can we overcome darkness. He urged individuals to pray in solitude, whether in their homes, tents, or under the trees, and to open their hearts to the transformative power of Christ’s love.
“Only Jesus can bring the peace we need. So, whatever hate we have toward others, the hate is not from God. It is from the devil. We need to welcome Jesus in our hearts while on our knees alone in our rooms, tents or under the trees. Jesus already defeated Satan on the Cross. Jesus can do the same and defeat Satan in our hearts if we allow him in within this Advent period”.
The bishop challenged the belief that peace can be achieved through violence, stressing that ethnic conflict can only be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding. “No community can achieve peace by encouraging more violence. Peace will come only when both sides are ready to resolve the current conflict without violence,” he asserts.
