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“Don’t be people of many words”: Catholic Bishop in South Sudan to Newly Ordained Priests

From left: Fr. James Khamic, Fr. Arkangelo Manyiel, Bishop Christian Carlassare, Fr. Angelo Deng, and Fr. Andrea Osman Okello (Vicar General of Rumbek Diocese) on 11 June 2023. Credit: Fr. Tamil Selvan SDB/Tonj/Rumbek/South Sudan

By Patrick Juma Wani

Rumbek, 13 June, 2023 / 9:21 pm (ACI Africa).

The newly ordained Priests for the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek will need to be keen on “action and service of God”, the Local Ordinary of the South Sudanese Diocese has said, cautioning them against the temptation to be “people of many words”.

In his homily during the Sunday, June 11 ordination of three Deacons to Priesthood, Bishop Christian Carlassare emphasized the need for the new Priests to get fully involved in the evangelization mission, spreading the word of God and administering Sacraments.

Credit: Fr. Tamil Selvan SDB/Tonj/Rumbek/South Sudan

“Don’t be people of many words but people of action and service of God to the Church and the community,” Bishop Carlassare said during the ordination celebration that was held at Holy Family Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek.

He added, “After this ordination you need to be at the services of the people.”

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Credit: Fr. Tamil Selvan SDB/Tonj/Rumbek/South Sudan

“You should continue to offer the service of God because you are ordained as servants to give the Eucharist and preach the word of God to the people,” the Catholic Bishop said.

He added, “You cannot offer the Eucharist if you don’t preach the word of God and you cannot do one without the other.”

Credit: Fr. Tamil Selvan SDB/Tonj/Rumbek/South Sudan

“Please keep them together to unite the people of God in the Church and the community,” Bishop Carlassare said during the ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Arkangelo Manyiel, Deacon James Khamic, and Deacon Angelo Deng.

Credit: Fr. Tamil Selvan SDB/Tonj/Rumbek/South Sudan

The Italian-born member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) who has ministered in South Sudan since 2005 urged the new Priests to share the word of God with the people in the community with “a spirit of unity rather than dividing the Church”.

Credit: Fr. Tamil Selvan SDB/Tonj/Rumbek/South Sudan

“Nourish yourselves and others because you cannot make a good dish without good preparation,” he said, and added, “You can really nourish others because you have to share what you have received with others.”

Credit: Fr. Tamil Selvan SDB/Tonj/Rumbek/South Sudan

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The 45-year-old Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of Rumbek Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration on 25 March 2022 underscored the need for the new Priests to be instruments of “communion rather than division among the people of God.”

Patrick Juma Wani

Patrick Juma Wani is a South Sudanese journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. Patrick holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Makerere Institute for Social Development (MISD) in Uganda. He has over 7 years of extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of media, advocacy, communication and multimedia strategy and operations, with an excellent track record of editorial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder outreach. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.