“I would like to tell you that we have a white envelope sent to you the people of Wau and when I came the other week here, I didn’t cheat you that I am only John the Baptist,” the Apostolic Administrator of Wau, Archbishop Stephen Ameyu told the congregation that gathered at the Cathedral.
“Today, in the Catholic Diocese of Wau, we have great news sent to us on behalf of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Bert Van Megan,” Archbishop Ameyu announced.
Reading the message signed by Chargé d’Affaire at the Juba-based South Sudan Nunciature, Mons. Mark Kadima, the South Sudanese Archbishop announced the appointment saying, “I wish to inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has today on the 18th of November 2020, appointed Rev. Father Mathew Remijio Adam as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wau in South Sudan.”
“It is an appointment that is going to put me in direct contact with the local Church, giving me an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the people of God. I look forward to everyone’s contribution,” the Bishop-elect told ACI Africa during the November 18 interview.
He added, “Being called to work for the local church is going to be a real pastoral task. There are certainly going to be challenges and I look forward to facing them through the grace of God.”
“Wau is a diocese that is one of the biggest in South Sudan, which was founded by the Comboni Missionaries. That I am also a Comboni Missionary going to a Diocese inaugurated by the Comboni is a good thing; I’m going to continue what our founders started,” the 48-year-old South Sudanese Cleric told ACI Africa.
The Diocese became vacant 6 March 2017 following the death of Bishop Rudolf Deng aged 76.
“As a native of Wau Diocese where I have been appointed, I am familiar with a good number of Priests and this is an advantage. Some of them were my classmates,” he further said, and added, “This is a good starting point for me, and I look forward to collaborating with them, who are already on the ground.”
Ordained a Deacon exactly 17 years ago in Lima, Peru where he completed his Theology studies at the Comboni Theological College, the Bishop-elect was ordained a Priest in Wau in October 2004 by the immediate former Bishop of the Diocese, the late Rudolf Deng Majak.
The holder of a Master’s degree in Spiritual Theology from the Rome-based Pontifical Gregorian University has held various pastoral responsibilities, including Sudan’s Khartoum Archdiocese Vocations Director (2010-2012), St. Paul’s Major Seminary Spiritual Director (2012-2013), and Vicar General of Khartoum Diocese (2013-2017).
