Tombura-Yambio Catholic Diocese mourned Rev. Sr. Marcella Akele
The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio has lost one of the pioneer native nuns, Sr. Marcella Akele who died on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Yambio after a short illness.
According to Barani Eduardo Hiiboro, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, Sr. Marcella passed on at 4:00 a.m. at her community residence at St. Mary Tombura Catholic Parish after being unwell for a short time.
Speaking as he presided over the requiem mass, Bishop Hiiboro said that the death of the nun was not yet fully confirmed.
“According to a report from Yambio where she had sought medical help, Sr. Marchella is suspected to have contracted coronavirus; as such, samples from her were taken to Juba for further examinations. Unfortunately, the Lord called her home before the test results from a public national testing laboratory in Juba came back,” Bishop Hiiboro explained adding that the church will continue to keep medical measures during Sr. Marchella’s burial in accordance with the National Health Ministry of South Sudan.
Bishop Hiiboro further said that if the test results from Juba turn out positive, the Catholic Church in Tombura-Yambio will take more precautionary measures to help curb the spread. Already the diocese is conducting its affairs under strict adherence to the Covid-19 preventive measures stipulated by the Ministry of Health in the country. These include wearing masks, keeping social distance, and washing hands with water and soap.
Meanwhile, the late Sr. Marcella was eulogized as a humble and obedient servant of God who served diligently till her time of death. The late Sr. Marcella together with a number of her colleagues from the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Peace, which is a local congregation celebrated their Golden Jubilee of religious life in 2020 at Tombura Parish.
Rev. Sr. Marcella joined the vocation to sisterhood at a young age in 1960 and was sent to Rome, Italy where she undertook her studies and formation. According to Rev. Fr. Michael Katawa one of the senior and elderly priests in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, Sr. Marcella grew up as a humble and obedient servant of God who served him through people diligently till her time of passing on. Her presence will greatly be missed in the entire diocese.
Many people who knew Sr. Marchella expressed shock and grief over her passing and sent messages of condolences to her congregation. These included among others Rev. Fr. Elario Zambakari, a priest from CDTY who is currently studying in the USA, Rev. Fr. Mathew Minisare another CDTY Priest currently in Italy, and Sister Elviria Miidie, also from the CDTY and currently a student in Nairobi Kenya. Others included Stephen Darunga, in Nairobi Kenya, James Mopoya of Tombura County, Siata Joseph, and Hon. Pascala Bandindi from Juba National Parliament, just to mention a few.
Rev. Sr. Marcella was laid to rest at St. Mary Our Lady of Peace Tombura Parish. May her Humble Soul Rest in Peace.
By, Elias Ginana Mangbondo
