AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - "The work of formation of priests is a global and continuous effort on the part of the whole community"

Tombura-Yambio (Agenzia Fides) - After five years of being closed, Saint Joseph Minor Seminary, a secondary school that welcomes 92 seminarians in the Catholic diocese of Tombura-Yambio, reopened its doors on May 11. "Let us all pray together that this seminary will produce many local vocations", said the Bishop of the diocese, Msgr. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, addressing priests, nuns and lay people during the blessing in the company of a group of new students. In the statement sent to Fides, Msgr. Hiiboro insisted that the objective of the seminary is "to form future priests!" "The formation of our seminarian belongs to all the faithful of this diocese. History teaches us that many of the young men whom we have trained have become great leaders. The work of training priests is a global and continuous effort on the part of of the entire seminary community". "The training program, explains Hiiboro, includes personal prayers with the Holy Scriptures, music school, agriculture, skills of all kinds, including cooking, public speaking, Latin, Pazande, Kiswahili and Arabic languages, design and innovation schools, etc!" In addition, the bishop points out, the Seminary will continue to adhere scrupulously to the universal and national standards defined by the Church for the formation of candidates for priesthood. "As we continue to engage in the exciting work of training future priests", Hiboro concludes, "I ask you to sustain us in prayer. Please also pray for all priests, so that God strengthens and protects us in our work in the service of the people of God!" During Mass at St Joseph Maingbangaru Parish, the Bishop pointed out that the seminary has reopened thanks to the generosity of many people. Free scholarships have been set up for students in the village and surrounding areas. The diocese of Tombura-Yambio represents excellence in the field of education with 7 secondary schools, 46 primary schools, 32 kindergartens, 3 colleges, 1 university campus, the Major Seminary, the Institute of Philosophy Saint- Jean-Paul, 4 hospitals with several health centers in some parishes, and a Catholic organization for development and peace with the diocesan Caritas which runs several programs aimed at empowering people. The diocesan territory covers most of Western Equatoria State, with Nagero, Ibba, Nzara, Tombura, Meridi, Yambio counties and small portions of Mvolo, Mundri and Yei counties. Azande, Muro, Baka, Jur beri, Balanda, Mundu, Avokaya, are the main ethnic groups. The diocesan area has a significant number of tribes. Pazande, Arabic, English, Moru, Balanda, Baka, Jur Beri, Mundu, Avokaya and many other languages of South Sudan and neighboring countries are spoken in the region. According to 2022 Vatican statistics, the diocese has over 1,377,815 Catholics, 52 diocesan priests, 25 religious and 35 nuns. (EHK/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 18/5/2022)

Share: