Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
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| Most Rev. Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla |
Just days before the installation of Archbishop-elect of South Sudan’s Juba Archdiocese, Vatican representative Msgr. Visvaldas Kulbokas has confirmed that the plans are underway as earlier arranged.
“Sunday March 22, 2020 is scheduled for the ceremony of official entrance and installation of His Grace Most Rev. Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla to start his duties as new Archbishop of Juba,” the delegate of the Congregation for the Evangelization of peoples Msgr. Kulbokas said in a statement released Saturday, March 14.
He explained that his presence in Juba is “the supervision of the preparation for the said event.”
“Although there is still some work to be done, I am thankful personally to all those involved, especially the organizing committee, for what they have achieved so far,” said the Msgr. who is acting under mandate of His Holiness Pope Francis.
“I believe that the most important part remaining is that of a sincere prayer for the coming together of all the faithful in the Archdiocese of Juba around the new Archbishop, as a sign of our faith and unity of the members of the universal Catholic Church,” Msgr. Kulbokas stated Saturday.
The message of Msgr. Kulbokas comes days after the Archbishop Emeritus Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba called for peace to reign in the Archdiocese following a protest by some Catholic faithful who did not welcome the reconfirmation of Archbishop-elect Most Rev. Steven Ameyu by the Vatican.
“Dear People of God in the Archdiocese of Juba, I was saddened to learn and see that some Catholic faithful and Church personnel sustained injuries on Sunday, 8thMarch 2020 in St. Theresa’s Cathedral parish, Kator. Thanks be to God that no life was lost. I am unhappy to hear of violent threats and hostilities,” reads the letter by Most Rev. Lukudu dated Monday, March 9.
The Archbishop-emeritus has asked the Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Juba to embrace love and be open for God’s grace of forgiveness especially during this Lenten period saying, “I appeal to all the people of God during this Holy season of Lent which is a favorable time for us Christians to put love of God into action. When we love and help other people, we give them a chance to experience the love and mercy of God and together with them we shall be ready to receive God’s forgiveness and celebrate with renewed hearts the great feast of Easter.”