The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio Launches First Diocesan Synod Implementation Planning Workshop at St. John Paul II Phyilosophicum Major Seminary in Yambio.
Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, while addressing the participants stated that there is no way they can rejoice amidst the Corona virus Pandemic. He said that all people have been affected and others infected and they can utilized the synod to pray for those who faced the pinch because many people have succumbed to the deadly disease globally.
The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio has launched its first Diocesan Synod Implementation Planning workshop at St. John Paul II Phyilosophicum Major Seminary in St. Bakhita Yabongo Catholic Parish in Yambio with participants drawn from the 35 Parishes. These included Priests, Religious, Laity and Diocesan Curia Heads of Departments.
Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, while addressing the participants stated that there is no way they can rejoice amidst the Corona virus Pandemic. He said that all people have been affected and others infected and they can utilized the synod to pray for those who faced the pinch because many people have succumbed to the deadly disease globally.
The Bishop appreciated the participants for being available for the implantation of the first Diocesan Synod and encouraged them to come up with concrete decisions and projects that will benefit all people of God throughout Western Equatoria.
“I thanked Rev. Fr. Akuilino from Arua Catholic Diocese in Uganda who has been supporting the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio in all the Processes of the synod. His expert opinion will greatly help the Diocese to achieve its momentum goals when the implementation of the synod decisions finally takes place,” Bishop Hiiboro said adding that with the Diocesan Synod Policy it will be possible to form the Diocesan Pastoral Council in accordance with Catholic Canon Law (512) and (514,515) which speak about diocesan Pastoral Council.
Rev. Fr. Akuilino who has been an animating partner during the First Diocesan Synod explained the importance of implementation of planning workshop that gives plans for the Synod acts because a Synod involves a journey with Bishop, Priests, Religious and Christians moving together to a common course.
He said that the synod document was forwarded to Rome in Italy verification and fortunately; the document was checked and found to be perfect and within the church doctrine and now Bishop Hiiboro needs to promulgate it into Law in the Diocese.
Fr. Akuilino said that once the Bishop has promulgated the document into law for the diocese of Tombura-Yambi, other dioceses in South Sudan can use it to conduct their own synods.
The journey of the first Diocesan Synod in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio started in November 2017 and ended in December 2019. It was held under the theme: We are a Family of God’s People, a Participatory Church.
A synod is a general diocesan Assembly where a diocesan bishop calls all priests, religious and faithful to consult them on how to run the diocese and contribute ideas for the development of the diocese.
According to the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator who doubles as the First Director of the Diocesan Synod, Rev. Fr. Raphael Diko, the synod was well conducted and quite successful. He explained that it has five phases, which includes the Convocation, Grassroots Assessment, Listening Sessions, Implementation and Evaluation.
The planning workshop is therefore meant to enable the diocese to come up with both short and long term plans and implement it accordingly.
By: Elias Ginana Mangbondo
