Juba, 13 July, 2020 / 8:05 pm (ACI Africa).
A South Sudanese Cleric has expressed concern about the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic in the country and urged the faithful in the nine-year-old nation to be patient, loyal and faithful to God in order to overcome these challenges.
“We must be patient, loyal and faithful to God. No matter how long it takes for our prayers to be answered. No matter how long it takes for our challenges to be addressed, there is always the time that God intervenes in our lives,” Fr. Martin Ochaya said during Mass at Saint Joseph’s Parish in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, Sunday, July 12.
Reflecting on the readings of the day, Fr. Martin said, “Today we are like the people of Israel in Babylon. Disappointed and frustrated by the way COVID-19 is impacting on us.”
“Many people are separated from their families. Many people have lost not only their jobs and businesses but their loved ones,” the member of the Archdiocese of Juba clergy said and added, “The economic situation is biting us hard.”
He continued in reference to the COVID-19 restrictions, “Domestic and gender-based violence (have) increased because of stress and depression. So, we turn on each other violently to release this tension.”
