South Sudan: Comboni Missionaries ordained deacon

Phillip Andruga Kenyi, 35, received the diaconate from Bishop Erkolano Lodu Tombe of Yei on May 15, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The ordination took place in Yei’s Christ the King Cathedral. Bishop Lodu said during his homily that Andruga’s ordination should lead other youths to accept the call to a life of service in the Church as priests or religious sisters and brothers.

On his turn, the Provincial Superior of the Combonis in South Sudan, Fr. Daniele Moschetti, said the vocation is a call to action to build the Kingdom of God, a new South Sudan where there is justice, peace and truth. He announced that Deacon Andruga will be ordained to the priesthood on November 20, Christ the King Sunday, in Yei.

Representatives from the Comboni Missionaries and Comboni Missionary Sisters in South Sudan, local clergy, government officials, traditional leaders and a huge crowd attended the ordination inside and outside the cathedral.

Deacon Andruga did the novitiate in Namugongo, Uganda, and studied theology in São Paulo, Brazil. He returned to South Sudan last year for is missionary service. After a period in the mission of Old Fangak, Malakal diocese, he moved to the Lomin community, Yei diocese. Deacon Andruga made his perpetual vows in Juba on April 7, at the end of the 2011 Provincial Assembly.