“One of the challenges in our country is that people often give up on reasoning and quickly resort to taking up arms against one another. This approach does not help us, nor does it contribute to building our nation,” Bishop Lodiong said.
He observed that peace can only be achieved through “cooperation and understanding,” adding, “When people truly understand one another, dialogue becomes possible, and it is through dialogue that peace can be sustained.”
“Whenever disagreements occur, there is no need for violence. The only way to maintain lasting peace is to engage in dialogue. Through dialogue, we reason through our differences and, ultimately, find solutions,” the Local Ordinary of Yei since his Episcopal Consecration in May 2022 said.
For him, the principle of dialogue should apply to all stakeholders in the country, including government authorities, emphasizing that they commit “to peaceful means of conflict resolution, dialogue, justice, and respect for human dignity.”
In his January 25 press briefing, Bishop Lodiong thanked the youth across his Episcopal See and collaborators for the successful conduct of the 2026 edition of the Diocesan Youth Initiative, which he said focuses primarily on learning, talent development, and holistic formation, integrating physical growth with spiritual, moral, and faith development.
He said, “These engagements strengthen fraternity, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence among participants and communities. All youth who took part are commended for their commitment, courage, discipline, and exemplary sportsmanship, which brought honor to their respective parishes and to the diocese as a whole.”
“The Diocese gives thanks to God for the smooth conduct of the tournament and for the spirit of unity, discipline, and cooperation demonstrated throughout the event,” the Bishop said, urging the youth carry forward “the values of peace, and friendship nurtured during the tournament and to continue serving as ambassadors of Christ in their communities.”
Bishop Lodiong announced that the next edition of the 10-day Diocesan event, organized by the Office of Youth Ministry in partnership with other organizations, including Women for Women International and YMCA South Sudan, is scheduled for January 2027 and will be hosted by Sacred Heart, Lomin Parish.
“I encourage the youth to begin preparations in prayer, discipline, and teamwork ahead of the next gathering,” he said.
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.
