The Catholic Diocese of Tombura Yambio Experiencing Serious Lack of Liturgical Facilities and Equipment

The meeting looked at the challenges that the pastoral workers in this diocese are currently experiencing and one thing that featured prominently is the inadequacy of liturgical articles, books, vessels, and vestments.

“The diocese is currently running short of prayer books, Lectionaries, Missals, the Rites, vessels, and vestments that are meant for the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist,” said the Local Ordinary Barani Eduardo Hiiboro adding that most of the items they are currently using have been there for many years and as a result are completely worn out.

“Most of the liturgical books we currently use are not complete, some have pages missing; for instance, it is not strange to find that in some parishes, or churches or chapels, a lectionary would be missing some parts such that either part of Year A or Year B would be completely missing. You can only imagine the frustration such scenarios present,” the bishop explained.

The meeting, therefore, resolved to put some effort in trying to repair some of these liturgical books where possible. Other than that, they resolved to find ways in which they can publish or acquire new books for the liturgical functions. This means that the diocese has to find ways to raise funds in order to publish these books and also acquire new vessels thus replacing the old worn-out ones.

“We have run short of these things because of the perennial conflict which from time to time makes us shift our priorities. Furthermore, many of these items can only be imported, while at the same time the costs are quite expensive,” the bishop further explained adding that during their discussions they deliberated on how the diocese can make some vestments from the material that are locally available as well as considering cheaper ways of print liturgical books locally. As such, the meeting tasked some of the priests and laypersons especially the catechists to work on the way forward.

During the same meeting, it was noted that the support and care for the catechists throughout the diocese needs to be increased. This is owing to the fact that catechists do more work in the different parishes, chapels, prayer centers, and villages where priests cannot reach.

It was noted that most catechists lack liturgical books and other religious books that they require during their ministries. At the same time, the need to have ongoing formations and training for the catechists was also seen as paramount. Also, the issue of facilitating their movements while on duty was also seen as important as some catechists lack bicycles that they required to cover long distances. It was therefore resolved that all these issues will be thoroughly looked into and the way forward forged as the need to increase the effectiveness of catechists in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio is paramount to the evangelization work