South Sudan’s Rumbek Diocese Initiates Common Prayer for Recovery, Healing of Bishop-elect

“We ask our Lord for healing for Bishop-elect Christian and for his safe return to us here,” the Vicar General of Rumbek Diocese says in his letter dated June 29, and adds, “We hope too for the gift of peace for our community here in Rumbek.”

Msgr. Carlassare was shot in both legs when two armed men shot multiple bullets on his door, gaining access to his room in a block that houses Fathers serving at Holy Family Cathedral of Rumbek Diocese.

He received initial treatment at the health facility under the auspices of Doctors with Africa CUAMM in Rumbek and later airlifted to Kenya’s capital Nairobi and admitted at The Nairobi Hospital.

The member of the Comboni Missionaries who was discharged from hospital for home care on May 17 has called for reconciliation and justice inspired by the “heart of God.”

“It will take some time for my legs to be able again to walk but I assure you that I will be back and I will be with you,” the Italian-born Cleric who has ministered in South Sudan’s Malakal Diocese since his arrival in the East-Central African nation in 2005 said in his message to the people of God in Rumbek a day after he had been shot.

In an ACI Africa video recording from his hospital bed at The Nairobi hospital on April 27, Msgr. Carlassare described the previous day’s shooting experience as life-threatening and urged reconciliation and “justice with the same heart of God.”

On May 5, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Matthew Remijio of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese as the Apostolic Administrator of Rumbek Diocese, with the mandate to temporarily govern the Diocese until Msgr. Carlassare “is healed, ordained and takes over the governance of that Diocese, hopefully as soon as possible.”

Last month, Police in South Sudan’s Lakes State arrested the second of “the potential suspects” directly involved in the shooting of the Bishop-elect.

Suspected to be one of the two gunmen who shot the Bishop-elect, the suspect who was arrested on June 11 brought the number of those detained following the April 26 early morning shooting to six individuals, including a Catholic Priest.

In April, three members of the Clergy of Rumbek Diocese were among those detained following the shooting.

The two Priests and a Deacon were being charged for “instigating” the two gunmen who shot Msgr. Carlassare, South Sudan’s Lakes State Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Head of Investigative and Security Committee, Hon. Mathiang Deng Monydit, told ACI Africa.

After just over two weeks of detention, on May 14, Fr. Luka Dor and Deacon Stephen Mangar, were “conditionally” set free.

In the collective prayer (see full text below), the Clergy, women and men Religious, and the Laity in Rumbek Diocese will be praying for “all the faithful in our Diocese especially for Bishop-elect Christian.”

The formulated prayer includes the intention “for all those who are working in our local and national government, as they safeguard the wellbeing of the people of our land.”

“May we all continue to grow in faith and hope, so that the joy of the Gospel may be shared in our world. As a pilgrim people of God, we journey together, supporting one another along the way, and sharing a message of forgiveness and unity with those we meet,” the formulated prayer that seeks the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita and St. Daniel Comboni reads in part.

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Rumbek Diocese became vacant on 16 July 2011 following the sudden death of Bishop Caesar Mazzolari, a member of the Comboni Missionaries.

Fr. Fernando Colombo, also a member of the Comboni Missionaries, governed the Diocese as Diocesan Administrator until 27 December 2013, when Fernando Cardinal Filoni, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, appointed Fr. Mathiang Diocesan Coordinator.

Below is the full text of the prayer

Prayer for Bishop-Elect and the Diocese of Rumbek

Heavenly Father,

We pray for all the faithful in our Diocese. We pray especially for Bishop-elect Christian.

Strengthen him as he continues his recovery and returns to us to take up his role as our Bishop. Bless his family Lord and all those who care for him.

May we follow his example of being a missionary of peace and courage.

Bless all those who work in the Diocese,

that they will be good shepherds for the people they serve.

May the sacredness of their work bring light

and renewal in the service of your Church and your Kingdom.

We pray for all those who are working in our local and national government,

as they safeguard the wellbeing of the people of our land.

May their commitment to justice and integrity

be the foundation and inspiration of all that they do.

May we all continue to grow in faith and hope,

so that the joy of the Gospel may be shared in our world.

As a pilgrim people of God, we journey together,

supporting one another along the way,

and sharing a message of forgiveness and unity with those we meet.

St. Josephine Bakhita. Pray for us.

St. Daniel Comboni. Pray for us

Mary Mother of the Church. Pray for us