Tombura-Yambio Priests Urged to Lead Challenging Mission

(TOMBURA-YAMBIO COUNTY) – The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio in Western Equatoria State has ordained four new Priests and six Deacons, reminding them of the importance of their mission in a country affected by conflict, poverty, and division.

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala led the Ordination Mass on 4 January at St. Augustine Parish, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. In his homily, he said the Priests and Deacons are being sent into real situations, not an ideal world, and called on them to provide committed pastoral leadership.

“I am not ordaining you for an ideal country,” Bishop Hiiboro said. He described South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, as deeply loved by God but in need of Priests willing to guide communities amid challenges.

The Bishop, who also serves as President of the Integral Human Development Commission of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSS-CBC), urged the newly ordained clergy to lead others to Jesus Christ through their ministry.

He reflected on the story of the Magi, noting that just as the star guided the three wise men to Christ, Priests and Deacons should guide people toward Jesus by living faithfully and witnessing through action.

Bishop Hiiboro emphasised unity among the Clergy as a powerful form of preaching. He encouraged fraternity, shared prayer, and forgiveness, reminding Priests that love among themselves is a visible sign of discipleship.

The Bishop cautioned against complaints and divisions within the Clergy, warning that such behaviour weakens vocations and harms communities. He encouraged Priests to embrace the Cross of Christ, noting that suffering, when faced with humility, sanctifies and strengthens, while rejecting it can be destructive.

He also discouraged a celebrity mentality, stressing that the Church needs holy shepherds rooted in the daily realities of the people. Holiness, he said, is found in faithfulness to daily life, not in escaping it.

Prayer, the Bishop explained, is vital. A Priest who stops praying gradually loses direction, making it essential for their spiritual and pastoral work.

Bishop Hiiboro outlined the three evangelical vows, celibacy, obedience and simplicity as tools for inner freedom. These vows help Priests overcome ego, attachment, and isolation while enabling them to serve their communities effectively.

Referencing Pope Francis, the Bishop urged Priests to remain close to the people they serve, acting as agents of peace, defenders of human dignity, promoters of education, and advocates for food security and self reliance.

.Source: Association of Catholic Information in Africa (ACIA)