Message of the General Direction of the Comboni Missionaries for the ordination of Mgr. Carlassare

WORDS OF COMMUNION AND HOPE IN THE OCCASION OF THE EPISCOPAL ORDINATION
OF Mgr. CHRISTIAN CARLASSARE

Your Eminence Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, your Graces Dear Archbishop Stephen Ameyu, Archbishop Michael Didi, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, Apostolic Nuncio, Your Excellencies dear bishops of South Sudan and Sudan, religious and civil authorities…

Reverend priests and deacons, seminarians, dear Fr. Louis Okot, Provincial superior of the Comboni missionaries in SS, dear Fr. Fabio Baldan, PS of Italy, dear confreres, Comboni missionaries and sisters working in this land where we were born; sisters, brothers, lay working in the diocese of Rumbek and in South Sudan.

Dear People of God, Dear Bishop Christian

We thank God for this day on which we finally can accompany you and this Diocese in this important celebration when you become the shepherd of this Local Church present in Rumbek. You have gone through a difficult time this year but you have given a precious witness of forgiveness rooted in faith and hope knowing that God continues leading his people to the road of Peace. As General Direction, we have always been next to you, and we assure you that we will continue walking with you in this new service the Lord has entrusted to you. We also give thanks for the gift of your family, particularly your parents here present today, that accompany you in this special day and are part of your missionary vocation and journey.

As a motto for our next General Chapter, we have chosen the words of Jesus: “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15, 5). It is also our desire that you remain always anchored in Him as you carry on your Ministry together with all the pastoral agents and the people of God in the diocese. San Daniel Comboni said that “It is through the cross and martyrdom that all the Missions have been founded and have prospered, and Central Africa… did not have to follow a different path and march from the other Works of God” [W.5449]. We all know how much these words of our Founder are true for this land.

The Church in South Sudan has been built by the remarkable example of so many lay people, catechists, religious, priests and bishops who tirelessly proclaimed the Gospel of life with their commitment and self-donation. The Holy Spirit, protagonist of the mission, has being active through the lives of Saint Josefine Bakhita, Fr. Daniel Sorur, Sr. Fortunata Quascé, Bro. Giosué Dei Cas, Saint Daniel Comboni among many others. In time of trial and difficulty they excelled in the practice of faith, hope and love for the sake of the Gospel.

Dear Bishop Christian, we pray that you continue to follow the Good Shepered and now in a particular way as the Bishop of Rumbek, following the model of the Good Shepherd of the Pierced Heart. Through the intercession of Saint Daniel Comboni and Saint Josephine Bakhita may God continue to bless Rumbek and all its people. The Blessed Virgin Mary, be your mother in your difficult and beautiful mission.

The General Direction
Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus
Rumbek, 25.03.2022