South Sudanese Bishop Paride Taban Teaches Priests to Go Beyond Preaching: Cardinal

Torit, 08 November, 2023 / 3:35 PM

South Sudanese Bishop Paride Taban who died at the age of 87 on the Solemnity of All Saint has been eulogized as a “man of the community”, and a model for priests who must put what they preach into action.

According to Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako of Sudan, the life of Bishop Paride, who dedicated his life to working for peace and development of South Sudan provides “another dimension of being a Priest.”

In his homily at the Tuesday, November 7 requiem Mass of Bishop Paride, the Cardinal who retired as Archbishop of Khartoum Archdiocese in December 2016 further said that the late Bishop “was not only giving food to people but also educating the people on the meaning of Christian life. He urged them to live together no matter what tribes they belong to, to get rid of violence.”

Cardinal Zubeir said Bishop Taban “has opened for us another dimension of being a Priest or a Bishop.”

“We are not only preachers of the gospel. We are also workers of the gospel,” the Cardinal said, and added, “Bishop Paride is telling not to be only listeners. Don't be microphones but be doers of the word.”

The Sudanese Cardinal encouraged the faithful to continue praying for the repose of the soul of Bishop Taban who he said had rendered services that made life easy for everyone, especially in South Sudan.

“When we think of what he has done, we feel consoled. We are not praying in vain today, we are praying because our Lord Jesus assured us that wherever we pray he will grant it to us,” the 82-year-old Archbishop emeritus of Sudan’s Khartoum Archdiocese said at the event that was held at St. Theresa Kator Cathedral of Juba Archdiocese.

The Cardinal implored, “May the Lord who has given us Bishop Paride help us to move ahead.”