Foster “evangelization, peace everywhere”: Bishop in South Sudan to New Deacons, Priests

Addressing himself to the six candidates he was about to ordain, three to Diaconate and three to Priesthood, Bishop Christian Carlassare said, “You need to be role models in promoting evangelization and peace everywhere in the communities where you will be assigned to spread the gospel”. Bishop Carlassare added during the Sunday, November 20 celebration, “Our people are disunited within communities and they need our services as the Church to bring them together.”

“It’s very important for us as the Church to reach out to these people with the word of God” in order for them to live in peace, the Italian-born member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) who has ministered in South Sudan since 2005 further said. He underscored the need for those he was about to ordain to be in touch with the scriptures, saying, “You need to meditate on the Gospel every day in your life, seeing God everywhere present, especially within the people.”

“Without a sincere relationship with God our ministry will be fruitless,” he reiterated, and added, “The first closeness is to God which means to keep a strong relationship with God through prayers in whatever services you will be offering the people.” 

The 45-year-old Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of Rumbek Diocese since his consecration on March 25 advocated for the spirit of the Synod on Synodality, calling upon the candidate he was to ordain Deacons and Priests to reach out to “those that are in the Church and outside, and those who don’t have the mind to come to the Church.”

“We need to reach out to these people with the word of God because they need the same messages others are getting,” Bishop Carlassare said in reference to those who do not seem to be communion with the Church. In reaching out to others with the Gospel message, the Local Ordinary of Rumbek Diocese said, the people of God will be evangelized “in their respective communities because Jesus Christ is present in the community and in front of you”.

“You cannot convert others if you don’t convert yourself because you need to teach by example so that other people that you serve can follow your footsteps,” he added. During the November 20 event, the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, Bishop Carlassare Deacons Joseph Mau, Stephen Mangar and Lino Pioth Priests of his Episcopal See. He ordained James Khamic, Archangelo Manyiel and Angelo Deng John Deacons, incardinating them in Rumbek Diocese.

[Patrick Juma Wani – ACI Africa]