Cardinal in South Sudan Calls for Self-Reliance in Rebuilding Churches Destroyed by War

Juba, 12 January, 2026 / 5:09 PM

Stephen Ameyu Martin Cardinal Mulla of South Sudan’s Catholic Archdiocese of Juba has called for commitment and self-reliance in restoring Church facilities damaged by years of war. 

In his homily during Holy Mass that marked the centenary celebration for the Holy Family Palotaka Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Torit, Cardinal Ameyu underscored the call to self-reliance, reminding the faithful that “missionaries will not come again to rebuild this church for us.”

“We must be self-reliant,” he said during the January 12 event that was organized under the theme ‘Perseverance in unity of faith received in Jesus Christ.’ 

He added, “We must work hard to rebuild all our destroyed Churches and Priests’ houses using our own resources. If all of us are committed, we will change South Sudan.”

“At the Bishops’ Conference, we have decided that South Sudan must follow the path of self-reliance,” Cardinal Ameyu, who also serves as the President of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC) said.

He continued, “Believing and practicing our faith is more than just praying every Sunday. We must be ready to sacrifice our own lives, because words do not move stones, but our own effort does, each one bringing his brick, each one taking his turn to build this church.”

In his homily, the Local Ordinary of the Juba Metropolitan See also acknowledged with gratitude the work of early missionaries, noting that their efforts laid a strong foundation of faith and helped spread the Gospel among the people of God in the country.

He said, “Let us show our respect to the efforts of all those who built this church, because their efforts have brought us to where we are today.”

“No one would like to stay here. But those missionaries from Europe came and settled here,” Cardinal Ameyu said, recalling how a century ago the area was largely undeveloped, covered by forests, and infested by mosquitoes and tsetse flies, conditions that discouraged settlement.

The South Sudanese Church leader urged the people of God to take the centenary celebration as a moment to reexamine their conscience, saying, “My dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate these great 100 years of the family of Jesus in this Parish, let us resolve to rise and move forward.” 

He added, “We must establish transformation within ourselves, and these 100 years should be an examination of our consciences. We must confirm ourselves as people of the beloved Son, Christ. 

“We must live according to the spirit of the Gospel so that we can be called righteous, because God has given us all the necessary grace to overcome sin,” Cardinal Ameyu said in his January 11 homily.

The Cardinal encouraged young people in the country to embrace family life and take responsibility for the future of the Church, saying, “We cannot survive without the family, because from the family all these vocations come.”

“You must carry this church forward, the next 100 years belong to you. I appeal to you: choose good partners and marry in the Church. That is the only way we can carry this faith forward,” he noted.

Cardinal Ameyu, whose transfer from Torit Diocese to Juba Archdiocese in December 2019 was met with resistance from a section of the Clergy and Laity of South Sudan’s only Metropolitan See also called on young people to reject the culture of violence and instead embrace dialogue and reconciliation as means of resolving conflicts.

“I appeal in a very special way to you young people, who are still strong. Examine your conscience, examine your hearts, because the peace of this country will depend on you. If you reject violence and reject hatred, peace will surely come,” he said.

He added, “There are many ways of resolving our challenges and quarrels in families and in society. We must solve our problems through dialogue and reconciliation, because this church wants us to remain united.”

“Let us be mindful of keeping peace among ourselves. Each one of us desires to live in peace, and if you are a man or a woman of peace, let that peace in your heart reach your brother or sister,” Cardinal Ameyu said.