In the press release Dr. Itto said, “Although it saddens me deeply that Bishop Taban is not here with us, I am truly honored to accept this award on his behalf and help recognize the passion and devotion he gave to Holy Trinity Peace Village.”
Dr. Itto said that Bishop Taban, “has impacted so many lives in Sudan through not only the founding of The Village but the continued love he provided to its community for almost 20 years.”
On his part, the Villanova University President, Fr. Peter Donohue, described Bishop Taban as one who dedicated his life to promoting peace and compassion for those in need, regardless of faith or background.
“As an institution grounded in the values of St. Augustine, who preached about the power of communities dedicated to love, Villanova University is immensely honored to celebrate the life and work of Bishop Taban, and to have the 2023 Opus Prize as part of his legacy,” Fr. Donohue said during the award ceremony.
According to the website of the Holy Trinity Peace Village, Taban established the residence in 2000 to “unite the population in the area and set an example of peaceful cohabitation in war-torn South Sudan.”
Kuron Peace Village is situated in Eastern Equatoria State, the Southeastern part of South Sudan that borders Kenya and Uganda. Here, different ethnic groups live and work together in the village.
Two other finalists of the 2024 Opus Prize, Dr. Kristin Schroeder, co-founder of the International Cancer Care and Research Excellence Foundation (iCCARE), and Jameka Walker, Executive Director of Catholic Partnership Schools (CPS) were awarded $100,000.
“Each of the finalists, through three diverse avenues, has shown the same remarkable commitment to faith-based service, bettering the lives of countless individuals,” Kerry Robinson, executive director of The Opus Prize Foundation said.
He said that the finalists in the award had all “left an indelible mark on their communities and the world, and we cherish this opportunity to recognize and celebrate their extraordinary humanitarian efforts.”
Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.
