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| The Late Bishop Joseph Gasi |
AMECEA is mourning the death of Bishop Joseph Gasi Abangite, (94) Bishop Emeritus of Tombura-Yambio who died on Saturday 13thSeptember 2014 at his home Diocese of Tombura-Yambio in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan.
A condolence message sent to the President of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC) by the AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, on behalf of the Chairman of AMECEA Most Rev Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, CM, Archbishop of Addis Ababa Ethiopia, said AMECEA Secretariat have received the sad news of the passing on of Rt. Rev. Joseph Gasi Abangite, Bishop Emeritus of Tombura - Yambio with deep sorrow.
“While accepting God's will with humility, we thank Almighty God for the gift of Bishop Joseph Gasi to the Church and for the selfless service which he rendered to the people of God,” read the message adding that “We recall his tireless efforts in founding Solidarity South Sudan which has been instrumental in consolidating the efforts of religious men and
women in the fields of education and health for the people of South Sudan.”
The late Emeritus Bishop Joseph Gasi was among the first five indigenous Catholic Bishops of Sudan who initiated the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference in 1975.
Bishop Erkulano Lodu Tombe of Yei Diocese, the Vice President of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference who presided over the requiem mass of the late Bishop said that said people who love and concerned about peace like the late Bishop Joseph Gasi Abangite would cry when they see South Sudan being torn apart by war. “The late Bishop Gasi was a committed shepherd who never gave up preaching the message of salvation during his 33 years as a bishop out of the 50 years of priestly ministry,” he said.
Tombura-Yambio Catholic Bishop Barani Edwardo Hiiboro Kusala recalled that the late Bishop Gasi was very instrumental in advocating for peace and advised the late Dr John Garang and other world leaders to end the 21-year civil war in the Sudan. He described his predecessor as a holy man of God who worked tirelessly for education and peace.
Bishop Gasi who was laid to rest on Tuesday 16 September 2014.
Source: CRN and AMECEA Social Communications
