The hard-won celebration of South Sudan’s independence from Sudan lasted just over two years. The country plunged into civil war in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his then Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, of plotting a coup.
The political infighting brought to the light two factions of government forces, one loyal to Kiir and the other to Machar, in the violence that took place the streets of South Sudan’s capital city, Juba.
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
The violence quickly spread across the world’s newest nation, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians by the start 2014. The fighting continued as a brutal civil war that affected the entire country.
In line with the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) was formed in February 2020.
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The country had scheduled general elections before February 2023. An agreement between the RTGoNU and the opposition was to have the elections postponed to late 2024. Another postponement was reported, “owing to the continual delays in implementing crucial aspects of the 2018 peace agreement.” The elections have been planned for late 2026 amid calls to “address structural issues towards a democratic transition.”
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
The people of God in South Sudan continue to grapple with challenges from the protracted civil war. In the interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Jeff highlighted the complex environment in which Spiritans in South Sudan operate. “The issues of conflict, violence and insecurity are not long in the past, and there is a significant need for reconciliation and healing,” he said.
The U.S.-born Spiritan observed that daily life itself poses challenges. “I was especially struck by the time and energy that our confreres and the people they serve put into just managing the normal everyday requirements of life. From having access to electricity and clean water to navigating the byzantine visa and work authorization process, the life of the everyday person and foreign missionary is demanding and sometimes overwhelming.”
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Fr. Wafula confirmed the multifaceted difficulties both the missionaries and the local community members face.
“The challenges are indeed significant and multifaceted. Insecurity and instability… extreme poverty and underdevelopment… educational gaps… trauma and psychosocial needs… challenging living conditions for missionaries,” the Nairobi-based Spiritan Provincial Superior listed. Yet, he emphasized, despite these obstacles, “the people display remarkable resilience and hope, which deeply inspires our mission.”
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Spiritan mission: Education, healing, and community building
Amid these challenges, the Spiritans in South Sudan have responded with a holistic mission that combines evangelization, social outreach, and community development.
“In the three missions that the Spiritans serve in Thon Aduel, Wulu, and Rumbek town, in addition to providing for the sacramental and liturgical life of the local Catholic community, Spiritans are fully engaged in working closely with people of all backgrounds to meet the integral human development needs of the local population,” Fr. Jeff told ACI Africa.
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Since the Spiritan mission’s establishment in South Sudan in 2012, the missionaries have founded five primary schools and organized agricultural and livestock programs to improve food security and livelihoods.
In the December 9 interview, Fr. Jeff noted the importance of leadership development. He said, “There has also been a strong emphasis on leadership training to empower people themselves to be instruments of change in their communities.”
Equally important is the Spiritans’ work in healing and reconciliation, fostering dialogue across ethnic divides, Fr. Jeff said. At one Women’s Agricultural Program (WAP) attended by both Dinka and Nuer women, a participant described how the initiative not only taught her how to plant a productive garden but also “the benefit of working together with people from different tribes and forming a deeper understanding of community.”
Reflecting on this, Fr. Jeff shared, “It was impressive to hear the women themselves describe the impact of the program on the life of the entire community.”
On his part, Fr. Wafula highlighted the broader strategies of the Kenya and South Sudan Province of the Spiritans in supporting these missions.
He said, “We are responding in several concrete ways: strengthening personnel support… investing in key ministries… mobilizing global solidarity… collaborating with the local Church and partners.” These efforts include education, parish ministry, youth empowerment, trauma healing programs, and initiatives that foster peace and reconciliation.
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
A message of hope and solidarity
Both Fr. Jeff and Fr. Wafula emphasized that the story of South Sudan is not only one of hardship but also of resilience, faith, and hope.
Fr. Jeff sought to counter the often-one-dimensional global perception of the country, saying, “Too often when others hear about South Sudan, they think about war, strife and violence… from my brief visit and the warm encounter I had with the people of South Sudan, I can’t help but be encouraged by their resilience and their deep longing for a better society.”
“Their desire and willingness to work together for a stronger and better South Sudan is very real,” he added.
Fr. Wafula called for the global Church’s engagement in solidarity with the people of South Sudan. He said, “The people of South Sudan long for peace, dignity, and opportunities for their children. Their faith is strong even in the midst of suffering, and the Church has a crucial role to play—as a source of hope, healing, and accompaniment.”
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
“The people’s resilience calls us to renewed commitment, compassion, and practical support,” Fr. Wafula said.
Honouring Spiritan missionaries
Fr. Jeff and Fr. Wafula paid tribute to the Spiritan missionaries serving under extraordinarily challenging conditions in South Sudan.
Fr. Jeff said, “I am extremely proud of my Spiritan confreres who have given their all in very difficult circumstances to proclaim the Good News… Walking with people, listening to their stories, breaking open the Word of God… is the fruit of faithful missionary work.”
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Fr. Wafula echoed Fr. Jeff’s sentiments. He said, “To our confreres serving on the front lines: your dedication is a powerful witness to the Gospel.”
He went on to recognize with appreciation the partnerships that are essential to the Spiritan mission in South Sudan, saying, “To our benefactors and collaborators: your support truly makes a difference.”
“And to all people of goodwill: let us continue to pray for South Sudan and work tirelessly for a world where peace becomes a lived reality for all,” the Provincial Superior of the Spiritans in Kenya and South Sudan told ACI Africa on December 9.
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
A call to global solidarity
The canonical visit of Spiritan leaders to South Sudan underscored the urgent need for support and engagement from the worldwide Church. Fr. Jeff and Fr. Wafula hope that the story of South Sudan will inspire Catholics everywhere to contribute to reconciliation, education, and community-building initiatives.
In the interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Jeff concluded with a message of enduring hope: “We are never alone on this journey, and we give thanks for the wonderful gift to discover the mighty power of God at work in good times and bad. I give thanks for the gift of my Spiritan brothers and their commitment to the Spiritan mission in South Sudan. I pray for peace, healing and hope for the people of South Sudan.”
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Fr. Wafula’s words complemented Fr. Jeff’s vision: “The mission there is demanding but deeply evangelical. The people’s resilience calls us to renewed commitment, compassion, and practical support.”
Through the eyes of the two Spiritan leaders, the people of South Sudan emerge not as victims of circumstance, but as agents of hope, embodying a faith that persists even amid the harshest realities. Their story, as witnessed and celebrated by missionaries among them, is a testament to resilience, faith, and hope that refuses to die.
ACI Africa’s Editor-in-Chief, Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, is a member of the Spiritans.
ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
Credit: Spiritans, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/South Sudan
