Advertisement

South Sudan Catholic Diocese Appeals for Spiritual Solidarity With Over 3,500 Youth Gathering for Annual Festival

Credit: Catholic Diocese of Tombura -Yambio (CDTY)
Nicholas Waigwa

By Nicholas Waigwa

Tombura-Yambio, 30 January, 2026 / 5:59 pm (ACI Africa).

Officials of the Youth Ministry Department in South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Tombura -Yambio (CDTY) are appealing for spiritual solidarity with the thousands of young people participating in the January 28-31 annual Diocesan Youth festival.

In a document shared with ACI Africa on January 29, the officials call for unity in prayer for the over 3,500 young people gathered from across the country’s Western Equatoria State, as security in the world's youngest nation remains fragile.

“In the context of our fragile nation, this gathering is a strong sign of hope, unity, and renewal,” they say, urging the Clergy and members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL), families, prayer groups, and people of goodwill to offer prayers for the safety of the young people and for a successful conclusion to the four-day event.

The officials further call on the people of God to pray for “spiritual renewal and responsible leadership among the youth, peace, reconciliation, and development” across the country.

They entrust all activities during the annual festival, held under the theme ‘CDTY Youth Together for Peace and Development,’ to the prayerful patronage of St. John Bosco (Don Bosco), the Diocesan Patron of Catholic Youth, and implore God to strengthen the young people’s faith and make them instruments of peace and transformation.

Advertisement

A January 27 report by the Relief Web, a service of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), highlights the humanitarian situation in the East-Central African nation, indicating a rapidly deteriorating trend “at a level not seen since 2017,” amid escalating conflict, access denial, and an increase of human rights abuses, including forced recruitment of children by armed forces.

Catholic Bishops in South Sudan have condemned the renewed fighting in some parts of the embattled country, calling on parties to the conflict to acknowledge the people’s deep longing for peace.

In a statement on January 27, the Local Ordinaries of Juba Ecclesiastical Province, which brings together Catholic Bishops in South Sudan, lamented over the growing discord within the Unity Government and the attacks and counterattacks between the warring parties in many parts of the country, which are spreading rapidly, causing displacements, hunger, and many other inhuman conditions.

“This country is more than any human desire; it's a home for a thousand generations to come. Let us care for it and protect ourselves as long as God gives us a new day,” the Bishops said, referring to the fragile situation in the country, adding, “We do not have another South Sudan to migrate to, so let's work for what unites us.”

Meanwhile, in a social media message to the young people gathered at Regina Mundi, the See of Ezo Vicariate in his Episcopal See, for the Annual Diocesan Youth Festival, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala encouraged the youth under his pastoral care to “be courageous builders of peace, agents of reconciliation, and promoters of authentic development” in their communities.

More in Africa

Kenya

“Come out and study every day,” Students in Kenya Encouraged to Work Amid Challenges at School Opening Mass

Read the article

He added, “Dear young people, with great joy, I send my warm greetings and blessings. You are the strength of today and the hope of tomorrow.”

Your gathering is a strong sign of hope, unity, and commitment to building a peaceful and better future for our Church and nation.  May God bless, protect, and guide you throughout this celebration,” the Bishop of CDTY said in his January message.

Nicholas Waigwa

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.

Trending