AFRICA/SUDAN - Inauguration of the first Catholic university in South Sudan

Juba (Agenzia Fides) – Yesterday, April 15, St. Mary’s University, the first Catholic university in South Sudan was inaugurated in the capital city of Juba. The ceremony was attended by the Security and Religious Affairs Minister, Maria Kiden Kimbo, of the South Sudan Government.
St. Mary’s University is the second private university in the capital of South Sudan. Minister Kimbo praised the opening of the new university, which will offer an education to future social workers, a profession that is extremely important in a country with nearly 50,000 handicapped persons.
Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba will serve as the Vice-Rector of the University. The Archbishop recalled that, according to Church canons, priests should receive a university education, so they can serve all the peoples of the world. Archbishop Lukudu Loro thanked those who had financed the University and rejoiced at the establishment of a second private upper-level institution in Juba. He also made an appeal to benefactors not to abandon the Archdiocese in this initial phase of the university, exhorting the citizens of South Sudan to contribute in making St. Mary’s University the best of its kind.
On March 2, 14 students began courses, in collaboration with the “Our Family” association of the secular institute “Little Apostles of Charity,” which was founded by Blessed Father Luigi Monza.
The Catholic Church in Sudan has taken up a fundamental role in education in both the North and South, having offered an education to many important political figures in the area. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 16/4/2009)